PARENTS of children at Dene Magna School said they were “disgusted” that a local bus provider scrapped its daily fares for students in favour of annual tickets costing nearly £800.

Many took to social media to slam Cinderford-based Grindles Coaches after it announced last week that it was increasing its fares and required payment up front, which parents said would “remove all flexibility” and increase the financial pressure on them amid the cost of living crisis.

And, after receiving “much animosity” from parents both through direct contact and online, the family-run business was forced to explain the decision in further detail this week, and to rethink the change in part.

Single mother Amabel Mortimer, who lives in Cinderford, currently has two sons at the school who catch the bus a few times a week when she’s unable to drive them because of work.

Following the initial announcement, she said her options were to buy annual tickets - costing £790, or nearly £70 a month in instalments - or send them to school on a Stagecoach bus, which would involve them crossing busy roads at rush hour to get there, with no flexible alternative offered by Grindles.

The bus company sent out a letter to parents on Thursday (July 14) which said they have made the change in response to a recent Year 6 induction week, when “it was evident there is a high demand” for the service, which links Cinderford, Littledean and Drybrook to the school.

The letter says: “Due to a maximum capacity of passengers allowed on each bus, it is important that a system is implemented to ensure complete confidence and guarantee that your child is able to catch the bus and travel safely to school every morning.”

It went on to say that increased “fare dodging” and incorrect payments have also contributed to the decision, and that the system ensures “fair travel for all”.

But Amabel questioned the company’s reasoning, saying she suspects the change has been made to increase profits, with no regard for parents.

“I’m absolutely disgusted”, she said. “We’re in a cost of living crisis, the price of everything is going up, yet we’re being expected to pay £800 up front or have to make other arrangements.

“I don’t believe it’s to restrict numbers as they say, all its doing is restricting parents.

“There’s been absolutely no consultation with parents, they’ve just taken away that flexibility and left us with no alternative.”

A spokesperson for Dene Magna said the school has played no part in the decision, as it is a private route.

Grindles released a second statement on Monday (July 18) defending the change, having received “many calls and emails expressing dismay”, along with “some quite hurtful” comments on social media.

General Manager Tom Grindle reiterated that the change would help avoid a safeguarding issue of children being left on the side of the road if the bus fills to capacity.

He explained that the price increase comes not to increase profits but to maintain its profit margin amid a “massive hike” in the costs of running the business, and asked that people don’t liken the business to “big corporations who are profiteering”.

He also said running an additional service or purchasing a bigger coach for the route is “not feasible” due to the cost, and that there is no guarantee of demand for an additional bus.

But he did say that, after “listening to the concerns of parents” whose children only use the service a few times a week, they will be offering single tickets, but they must be booked a week in advance and will only be available if seats do not sell out through annual passes.

He concluded by saying the company do not appreciate the “public defamation” they have received over the issue, and have reconsidered whether to operate the service at all after receiving “so much animosity”.

He said: “We are not obligated in any way to provide these services and it is totally at our discretion whether we decide to or not. However, we are going to continue for the parents who rely on this service.”