Secondary school pupils are facing a daily walk of more than two miles to school after cash strapped North Yorkshire County Council withdrew free bus passes.

Thirty-nine pupils from 30 families in in Carleton who attend Aireville, Ermysted’s Grammar and Skipton Girls’ High School will be affected by the policy, which means that because the route is “under the statutory walking distance of three miles for secondary age pupils, free home to school transport has been withdrawn”.

County councillor Patrick Mulligan (Cons, Airedale) said the decision to withdraw the bus passes is “purely down to the financial situation”.

“I am disappointed,” he said. “I know the county council need to make savings where they can, but the burden is falling on the parents.”

Supplying the free bus passes cost the county around £400 to £500 per year.

“It’s a lot of money, especially if you have two children or more,” said Coun Mulligan who added: “The county has been slightly arbitrary about the way they’re doing this.”

He said the council is just enforcing a policy that has been in place, but he added they are closing “loopholes” which had previously allowed students to get free bus passes.

“If you give something to someone and then take it away, people get upset,” said Coun Mulligan. “There is a great concern in the community about this.”

Carleton resident Steve Richardson is head of a group of parents who have children who are no longer going to receive the free passes.

He said 25 parents have already appealed the decision and he expects these could be heard in December.

The parents have held two public meetings to air their concerns about what withdrawing the free bus passes would mean for the safety of their children. “No parent who attended any of the meetings would allow their children to walk the route,” said Mr Richardson. “That road (Limehouse Lane) floods, it’s unlit and there is a 60mph speed limit.

“It’s not safe for an army of kids to be walking that route.”

He said the parents have pooled together some money with the parish council to share an £800 cost to have a private risk assessment done.

Richard Simpson, chairman of Carleton Parish Council, said: “We’re concerned for the safety of children. It’s difficult for us to spend money and challenge the county council directly, so we felt it was within our moral means to help parents do a risk assessment. We felt that the county council’s risk assessment was not as complete as it could have been and had not been done to the best possible standard.”

“As a group of parents, we’ve asked for a formal meeting with the council, but they have told us that the appeals process is individual and each is considered separately. We’re attempting to have a dialogue and look at the issue collectively.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said the walked route was assessed by an experienced road safety officer walking the route at the time of day when secondary school pupils would need to, in accordance with the Road Safety GB national guidelines.

He added: “The route, which utilises a recently constructed footway near to the cemetery, has now been assessed as a safe walked route accompanied as necessary by an adult.

“As the route to all three secondary schools is under the statutory walking distance of three miles for secondary age pupils, free school transport has been withdrawn.”