A petition for more bus services for secondary school pupils in Wokingham has succeeded.

The petition, formed by the Wokingham Liberal Democrats, asked that the council set up a new bus service to take secondary school pupils living in and around Finchampstead Road to the Emmbrook, Forest and Holt Schools.

According to Councillor Sarah Kerr (Liberal Democrat, Evendons), who started the petition, a total of 201 people signed it across paper and online formats.

Campaigners from the Liberal Democrats were concerned that the only way secondary pupils would be able to get to their schools would be by car.

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Cllr Ian Shenton (Liberal Democrat, Evendons), elected earlier this year, explained that increasing development in north Wokingham meant the current bus routes had become insufficient.

He said: “There was a bus that went up Finchampstead Road from the Think Ford garage that would take pupils to St Crispins School.

“But due to the changing nature of the population, pupils from St Crispins are increasingly coming from the Montague Park estate.

“Pupils living off Finchampstead Road and Evendons Lane are increasingly getting placed in Emmbrook and the Holt.

“So far, children who attend Emmbrook Senior school have had to get to a bus stop in Finchampstead on Barkham Ride to board.  This is nowhere near where they live and has resulted in many children being driven to school.

“We asked for routes to be reconsidered in order to avoid increasing emissions.”

As a result of the petition, Wokingham Borough Council has said that it has begun the process of setting up a bus service for pupils living along and off Finchampstead Road.

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In full, a letter from the Community Transport Unit at the council states: “For the 21/22 academic year the council can confirm that a shared route from Barkham Ride, Nine Mile Ride, Sandhurst Road, Finchampstead Road, Molly Millar’s Lane, Barkham Road, and Reading Road for Emmbrook and Forest schools has been put out to tender.

“The vehicle operating this route will have a minimum of 70 seats, which is anticipated to be sufficient capacity to accommodate all eligible students as well as all those that have already returned fare payer forms.

“A further route to Holt School has been put out to tender which will originate in the Eversley area, serve Arborfield and then continue along the above route to Holt School.

“The vehicle operating the Holt service will have a minimum of 60 seats which is anticipated to be sufficient capacity to accommodate all eligible students as well as all those that have already returned fare payer forms.

“Both services will stop at local bus stops along the Finchampstead Road.”

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Hailing the success of the petition, Cllr Maria Gee (Liberal Democrat, Wescott) said: “We are delighted that following many hours of going door to door to get signatures, in addition to our online petition, the Council have agreed with us.

“This bus service, operating in the area that these children live will make a big difference and we would like to thank everyone who took the time to sign the petition.”

Cllr Kerr added: “Safe, green transport options need to be readily available for our children and the inclusion of these bus services is a vast improvement given the Council’s declared climate emergency,.

“We will continue calling on the council to improve walking and cycling facilities in the area.”