A mum has slammed Bracknell Forest Council for scrapping free bus travel for Ascot students, saying residents are too often "overlooked and forgotten".
The authority will stop funding transport to Charters School in Sunningdale if another secondary school is closer to a child's home, a move parents say will hit Ascot Heath Primary families who often go on to Charters.
Emily Booth, 37, said: "For years the council has funded transport for pupils travelling from North Ascot to Charters School. It feels really unfair to change this policy and punish future generations. I don't feel parents were properly consulted."
She warned many families moved to the area because of the free bus. "We moved here to be in the Charters catchment, we knew there was a Charters bus and families have benefitted from it for years," she said.
Ms Booth said North Ascot is "a little bit of a forgotten land" with poor links and lighting, and added: "I would invite them to come and walk the route from my house with me, with my little girl and a backpack on, in the rain at 6.30am in November, to see how practical it is."
Bracknell Forest Council said the change will bring its transport policy in line with statutory duties and save around £167,000 a year. Existing pupils can continue using the service until they finish Year 11.
A public consultation found 68 per cent of respondents opposed the proposal, while 32 per cent supported it.
The council has been contacted for comment.
Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter
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