A MUM has expressed her anger after her 10-year-old son was told to walk a mile-and-a-half to the nearest school bus stop.

Beth Wannop, who lives at Five Road Ends in Carlisle, can’t drive her son to school due to health reasons.

She applied for transport through Cumbria County Council’s ‘spare seat scheme’ last month.

After making her bid, she was told her son Jay, who attends Stoneraise Primary School at Durdar, was eligible to get a bus.

But the sting was that he would have to make the long walk to the nearest bus stop.

The 30-year-old said the journey is too far for him to walk.

She told the News & Star: “My son got a seat on the spare seat scheme, but I’ve been told by the council that he has to walk over a mile and a half to get to the nearest bus stop.

“By the time he would get to that stop, his school is just around the corner, so there is no point in him walking all that way for such a short ride.

“There is a bus stop near to our house, but the council have refused to allow him to be picked up there.”

Cumbria County Council has defended its position.

In response to the situation, a spokesman said: “A child’s entitlement to free school transport is linked to the child’s catchment or nearest qualifying school.

“The school the child attends is his 16th nearest school, and it is parental choice for the child to travel to that school.

“Unfortunately, the council is unable to accommodate the request to collect the child from the preferred bus stop, as doing so would involve a detour to the bus and an increase in fuel cost and driver time.

“Furthermore, the council is unable to accommodate every single request for additional pick up points, and the policies in place are designed to provide a fair and accessible application process for all families.

“The routes are organised to meet the council’s responsibilities for children who are entitled to free transport.

“Children without an entitlement, who use the ‘spare seat scheme’, are collected at the nearest boarding point determined by the council.

“By way of context, the county council provides free school transport for approximately 9,800 children in Cumbria every day.”