WEEKS after parents voiced their outrage following Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision to stop a school bus service, Stagecoach has agreed to maintain the service for another year.

Families who use the number 10 bus which takes children to The Costello School were left furious after the school released a letter stating BDBC had opted to cancel the service. 

The bus, which collects children from Lychpit, Chineham and Old Basing, was due to be cancelled in July 2016.

However, Stagecoach has now promised to deliver the number 10 for another year whilst talks between the bus company, Costello School, Hampshire County Council and BDBC continue.

Adam Hawksworth, commercial manager, said: “We recognise how important these buses are to those who use them and whilst school buses often struggle to cover their costs, I am sure we can find an innovative solution, ensuring a direct bus link between Chineham, Lychpit, Old Basing and Costello School can continue.

“The new routes in September may look a bit different but we will try to get everyone to school.”

It was feared that children who used the number 10 would have to use an alternative bus route – the number 14 – which would have got pupils to school an hour before their classes began.

The number 10 was originally run by HCC, but due to cuts BDBC took over the service for one year. BDBC head of planning and infrastructure Matthew Evans said: “BDBC is not the transport authority and the pilot Stagecoach service [number 10] we have funded was introduced after HCC withdrew the service serving the school in January 2015.

“The pilot service was only intended as a short-term solution to assist students in the interim while a longer terms solution was investigated. We cannot continue to fund this route and welcome Stagecoach’s decision to run this service until July next year.”

Another service Stagecoach is set to secure the short-term future of is the number 656.

Arranged by HCC, this bus route also provides schoolchildren with transport to school, as well as everyday commuters, and it was expected to be cut in September 2016.

The decision to cut the service was made by HCC after it was agreed in last October’s cabinet meeting that £450,000 would be saved each year on "school specials" bus services.

A spokesperson for HCC said: “We are pleased that Stagecoach has decided to continue to run this service without a county council subsidy.”

Steve Barnes, deputy head at Costello, said: “We are delighted that Stagecoach have been prepared to continue the services and this will have a positive impact on our students as well as reducing traffic at key times around out school.”