PARENTS were given one week's notice to find alternative travel arrangements for their children after two buses to Darton High were axed.

A letter from the council's school transport manager, Sue Hague, was sent to parents of about 150 pupils on Thursday, April 17 stating services 471 and 492 would not be operating after Wednesday, April 23 because they were no longer viable.

The buses, provided by Tate's Travel, served the Wakefield Road, Staincross, Mapplewell and Darton areas, and the Chronicle understands there are no other operators willing to register a replacement service.

Graham Mallinson, director of Tate's Travel, said the company had no choice but to withdraw the services for financial reasons and had stuck to its licence agreement by giving the school, LEA and SYPTE the required 56 days notice before terminating the contract.

He said: "We have been in negotiations with the school for the last two months to try to find a solution. The school, LEA and council were all very aware these services would have to be withdrawn because no-one was, or is, prepared to subsidise the services.

"They are no longer financially viable because of increases in fuel prices and wage bills coupled with the fact that we are not allowed to legally charge more than a 40p flat rate fare per child has given us no choice but to withdraw these services."

Robert Adams, of Hall Grove, Staincross, has a son who uses the 492 bus and told the Chronicle neither he nor his wife would be able to take him because of the hours they work.

The council has suggested alternative bus services including the 444, 485, 488 and 490 but Robert says they are already oversubscribed.

Coun John Parkinson, of the Darton East ward, said he was annoyed local councillors had found out about the withdrawal from parents and not the council.

He added: "It was not a council decision to axe these services but a commercial one taken by Tate's Travel. However, the amount of notice given to parents by the authority was not enough to make alternative arrangements."

Bob Williams, head of council corporate communications, said the withdrawal of the services was extremely regrettable and will cause difficulty for some families.

He added: "Every effort has been, and continues to be made to find a local operator who may be interested in providing a replacement service. The council is also working with the school to find an acceptable solution as soon as possible."