NORTH Petherton Council has met with parents as they campaign to save the bus service for children in the town.

Somerset County Council had ruled that the route from North Petherton to Robert Blake Academy was both under three miles and deemed safe for schoolchildren to walk.

But parents say it is not safe for the children to cross the busy revamped Huntworth Roundabout, and traffic will only increase with the construction of Hinkley C.

Members of the council met with parents on Thursday to agree what they felt were the main flaws with the County's decision as they prepare a case for the Appeals Panel.

Town mayor Cllr Alan Bradford feels strongly that the timing of the changes could not have come at a worse time.

"There will be a great deal of development taking place in the area over the next two years which will generate a big increase in construction and delivery traffic," he said.

"It is not a good time for children to be put in danger's way."

Deputy mayor Cllr Julian Taylor added: "The rules that the County Council used to reach its decision were made when the traffic on our roads was a fraction of what it is now."

Following the discussions with parents councillors has agreed to recommend funding an independent appraisal of the safety assessment, so that the members of the appeals panel have a full set of facts before them when making their decision.

The County Council deemed the route as safe following an assessment which included several walks and analysis of the data relating to traffic flow and accidents.

This meant the temporary free school transport from North Petherton to the Robert Blake Science College in Bridgwater will end at Easter.

Councillor Frances Nicholson, cabinet member for Children and Families, said: “We take the safety of school children very seriously and put a temporary free bus service in place because the A38 works made the route unsafe.

“This was always temporary and now that the work is finished and the route assessed as safe, this service will come to an end.

"The children who used the temporary free transport will either now walk or cycle to school, or their parents will have to make alternative arrangements."