PARENTS in Bere Ferrers are outraged over proposals to axe school transport on the Bere Peninsula.

Children living in the village, and some from the Weir Quay area, attend primary school at Bere Alston and use a coach to complete the 2.9-mile journey.

But Devon County Council is reviewing its transport arrangements and parents are shocked by suggestions that their children could walk to school.

The county is not legally obliged to provide transport for pupils under the age of eight who are expected to walk up to two miles to school. Over the age of eight children are expected to walk up to three miles.

The county council says the road is 'deemed a safe route' for children over the age of eight.

Kathryn Grinstead's daughter Abigail uses the school bus from Bere Ferrers.

Mrs Grinstead said: 'I think it's disgusting, especially since we haven't even been notified properly.

'The county says children can walk to school — my daughter would have to leave about 6.30 in the morning.'

Mrs Grinstead thought the narrow lane to Bere Alston from Bere Ferrers was 'far too dangerous' for children to walk to school.

Sue Walker, who has a ten-year-old child attending Bere Alston Primary School, said: 'There is no way a child could actually walk that stretch — even as an adult I don't think its particularly suitable.'

Parent Michael Ward said any decision to axe services was a 'retrograde step' which sent the wrong signs to the public.

'I think in this day and age it's a ridiculous decision to take, 15 is a perfectly reasonable number to take on a bus,' he said.

'It would be dangerous whatever Devon County Council say. The road is full of cow manure, it's dirty, muddy, dark in winter — whoever made the decision that an eight-year-old could walk safely there is wrong.'

Mr Ward suggested that while pupil numbers were lower, a smaller coach should be used and criticised any move which resulted in more private cars on the road.

Parents lobbied Tuesday night's meeting of Bere Ferrers Parish Council to ask for support and police have added weight to their appeal.

PC Simon Siddall, of Tavistock Police, said: 'Children walking on country lanes pose a definite danger. We certainly have concerns over children that age walking down there.'

County councillor Greta Madigan said she was 'personally very committed' to getting the best public transport possible and hoped no child would have to walk to school.

'I will certainly work very hard to make sure they don't,' she said.

'No definite decision has been made yet — we are looking at using the money to the best advantage so that the money that is available will make a better service for adults and children.'

Tim Davies, head of the county's transport co-ordination service, confirmed the school coach service would finish this term.

'Parents will be receiving a letter when the department is clearer what the arrangements will be,' he said.

'The cost of the contract in its present form is completely unacceptable. The number of children involved suggest it may be possible to involve a mini-bus, but it would need other work to do.'

Mr Davies said the council was trying to improve transport services in the area using the government's extra rural bus funding.

'What we can't do is in any way guarantee or indicate what the arrangements will be at the moment.'

Mr Davies said that ideally a new transport service could be in place by September, but temporary arrangements would be made for the summer term.