This morning parents of villagers with children at Impington Village College (IVC) received a letter from Cambridgeshire County Council announcing their intention to withdraw the free school bus from September. This is a consequence, which the village has worried about for some time, of the completion of the cycle lane along Butt Lane beyond the A10 to Impington. As the college is less than three miles from Milton this was always a possibility.

The college has posted this on facebook:

IVC is deeply disappointed at the decision to withdraw the free bus currently used by over 180 students from Milton. Whilst we accept the Council needs to reduce expenditure it has to do so in ways that are safe for children. It is our considered view that the shared foot/cycle along Butt Lane intended for students to use from September is simply too narrow according to Department for Transport guidance (2012) for such an unsegregated facility alongside a 60 mph road. We would urge parents to contact the Council and to appeal against the decision.

Unsurprisingly this has been the subject of much discussion on milton-chat and Jane Coston, chair of Milton Parish Council, has posted there that:

I have arranged for an extraordinary meeting of the parish council for this Thursday 30th April at 8pm so that the parish council can respond should they wish to do so.

I will also speak to both the head at Impington and Milton Primary on Monday. I will try to arrange an initial meeting for parents as soon as possible and will be discussing venues for this.

We will try to keep you up to date via Milton News as to what is going on as this affects the whole village not just current and future parents at IVC.