Every school day, hundreds of children travel to and from Chilmington Green Secondary School without access to dedicated school transport. For many families, this means pupils are expected to walk or cycle significant distances using routes that many parents believe are unsuitable, particularly during the darker autumn and winter months.

Parents have repeatedly raised concerns with Kent County Council regarding the lack of a practical transport solution. Despite appeals and ongoing requests, many families are still left with no realistic alternative.

The KCC official 'safe walking route' is just under three miles from Singleton to Chilmington Green Secondary School - this situation is neither practical nor sustainable.

The  'safe walking route' many pupils are expected to use includes sections where there are no pavements and children must walk alongside busy roads on narrow grass verges. Other parts of the journey are poorly lit or completely unlit, meaning pupils can be walking in darkness for much of the school year. Parents have also raised concerns about increasing traffic, limited visibility, the absence of safe crossing points in places and the fact that the route has never been independently assessed under the conditions many pupils actually experience, including darkness, poor weather and peak-time traffic.

For working families, accompanying children on these journeys every day is often impossible. As a result, parents are paying for taxis, arranging lift-sharing, making additional car journeys or changing their working hours simply to ensure their children arrive safely.

We are not asking for free transport.

We are asking Kent County Council to introduce a paid school bus service that parents can choose to use.

A paid school bus would:

• provide children with a safe and reliable journey to and from school;
• remove the need for many pupils to walk long distances along unlit routes and roads without continuous pedestrian infrastructure;
• reduce traffic congestion and parking pressures around the school;
• improve road safety for everyone;
• support working families;
• improve attendance and punctuality; and
• provide an affordable alternative to taxis and multiple daily car journeys

What makes this even more frustrating is that Chilmington Green Secondary School is thriving. The school has recently received a glowing Ofsted report, recognising the high-quality education, leadership and positive environment it provides for its pupils. Families are proud to be part of the school community.

However, access to an outstanding education should not be limited by the lack of a safe and practical way to get there.

Chilmington Green is one of Kent's fastest-growing communities, and pupil numbers will continue to increase each year. The demand for school transport will only grow alongside it.

This petition calls on Kent County Council to work with local transport providers to assess demand and introduce a paid school bus service serving Chilmington Green Secondary School.

Our children deserve a safe, reliable and practical way of getting to school. Parents are willing to pay for that service. We simply ask Kent County Council to work with our community to make it happen.

Every signature strengthens our case. Please stand with local families and call on Kent County Council to deliver the paid school bus service our community needs.