CASH-saving measures proposed by Thurrock Council to scrap school buses for children include the option of encouraging pupils to cycle or walk on a country road - which a school has already branded as 'too dangerous' in its travel plan.

Parents and ward councillors in East Tilbury have already expressed significant concern about a Thurrock Council proposal to scrap the provision of a free bus service for youngsters in the village to St Clere's School in nearby Stanford-le-Hope.

Residents in the village and surrounding area were invited to take part in a consultation by the council's transport development team, on a number of alternative methods the council suggests – which include children walking and cycling between home and school via Walton's Hall Road and Butts Lane.

Another alternative is for the children to take the train.

The consultation for parents and carers, which said it was "being undertaken to help us understand your views about different modes of travel to school that could be offered to pupils", closed on 31 December.

Government guidelines on the provision of free transport to school says that all children over eight who live three miles or more from their school are entitled to free transport.

The provision of free transport for all village children in East Tilbury to St Clere's has existed since the school was built in the seventies. Initially the school was planned to be built in East Tilbury but the decision was taken to build in Stanford because of an opportunity to get cheaper land – however the commitment was made that East Tilbury children would get free travel by way of compensation.

Now the cash-strapped council is looking to revoke that, and is suggesting only offering free travel to children outside the three mile limit. Much of the village, and neighbouring Linford, for example, fall within the three mile limit. Stanford House, a pivotal landmark building in the centre of East Tilbury is shown on the council's own Home to school distance measurement map as 2.516 miles. Other homes in the main body of the village are just a few yards under the limit while others are over – so the council does have to offer those students free transport.

The defining factor in making the decision on distance is defined by the government as a 'safe walking route'.

The only way children could walk to St Clere's on a walking route under three miles is via Walton's Hall Road but children at St Clere's are banned from using that route by the school's own travel plan.

Last updated a couple of years ago in connection with a new build planning application at the school, the transport plan is absolute in its ruling about the road.

The travel plan says: "Pupils from East Tilbury and Linford are currently not allowed to cycle to school as the road is too dangerous."

There are no pavements on the narrow winding road which has a number of blind corners, so pedestrians would be in equal danger by having to walk in the road.

Our film that accompanies this report shows the whole length of Butts Lane and Walton's Farm Road from St Clere's to Linford. It was taken on a quiet bank holiday morning today (3 January). The vehicle was inside the speed limit at all points during the journey time of just under three minutes.

Ward Cllr Fraser Massey would like residents to keep the pressure on the council to scrap its proposals and make a declaration that the free service will remain, saying: "I am concerned plans could come forward in the future which would essentially mean many who have free transport currently would need to seek alternatives.

"The most common alternatives I would expect would be by car or train, both bring issues which could have an impact on traffic, parking, railway crossing safety, and last but not least extra travel money to find each week.

"With no new secondary school build planned in the area it is important parents and pupils show the Council how important the service is."