ANGRY parents have made a last-ditch plea to save free bus services for children in West Swindon.

Under proposals by Swindon Council, free school transport to Ridgeway and Bradon Forest Schools is to be scrapped in two years' time, due a surplus of places at Greendown Community School.

And Monday's West Swindon forum at the Link Centre was the last chance for parents to voice their opposition to the plans.

The proposed changes would apply to all Year 7 pupils, living in West Swindon, who will be starting secondary school in September 2009.

Mum-of-two Linda Stephens, 52, from West Swindon, said: "I really think this will affect the middle section of society as the poorer families will get support funding and the richer parents will probably drive their kids to school anyway.

"What about the safety of kids not getting the bus, who walk or ride their bikes on the roads? I think this could cause a lot of problems."

Fellow parent Vicki Harper, 37, said: "I think the sense of community is being lost here.

"I still don't know where in the education budget the money saved from the changes will be spent. The people of West Swindon should be given a greater choice of where they can send their children to and this is restricting them."

Parents still have until next Friday to submit a questionnaire on the proposed bus service changes after 1,000 were sent out to people in West Swindon.

At the moment there are about 200 spare places at Greendown, but this is likely to rise to about 500 by 2012. About 800 pupils are bussed out of the area each day, with about 625 going to Bradon Forest in Purton and 170 taken to Ridgeway in Wroughton.

Garry Perkins, Swindon Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "It would not be the case of removing buses.

"We are consulting widely on this and it is about looking at transport which is economic as possible and value for money."

Headteachers Clive Zimmerman, from Greendown, and Len Spiers from Bradon Forest were also in the audience.

Mr Spiers said: "Transport has been provided for the last 45 years.

"The consultation document is misleading as it indicates the transport was only provided because historically there has been a lack of secondary places in the area.

"Since 1962 Bradon Forest has always been a popular school choice."

By law, local authorities have to provide free transport to children travelling more than three miles to the nearest appropriate school.

The council spends about £500,000 per year on school transport for pupils living in West Swindon.

To take part in the consultation, write to Gareth Cheal, Children's Services, Swindon Council, Sanford House, Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1 2JN.