A call to review school catchment areas, allowing school pupils from Johnston, Tiers Cross and Neyland access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school has been turned down by senior councillors.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

Two petitions calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment areas to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest were started in the county last year, effectively reverting to the position that was in place prior to the reorganisation of secondary education provision in Haverfordwest in 2018.

Johnston/Tiers Cross was considered by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee last November and the Neyland petition by full council last December, with both referred to the council’s Cabinet, in this case the February meeting, where it was recommended the situation remained unchanged.

A report for members said: “Revisions of school catchment areas are normally considered and decided by Cabinet, but in the case of the changes to the Johnston, Tiers Cross and Neyland areas, these were considered as part of the wider complex process of reorganisation of secondary education in mid and north west Pembrokeshire during the period 2014 – 2018, i.e. by full council.

“The petitions specifically relate to the closure of Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools prior to the formation of Haverfordwest High VC School in September 2018. Prior to this reorganisation of schools, pupils living in the Neyland CP School catchment area fed into Sir Thomas Picton School, and those living in the Johnston/Tiers Cross area fed into Tasker Milward School.”

It stressed: “Whilst parents/carers may exercise their preference for any school of their choice from an admissions perspective, their entitlement to free home to school transport is determined by their home location.”

The report, presented to members by Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham, concluded: “It is considered that the justification for the change in catchment areas as part of secondary school reorganisation in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven in 2017/18 remains valid.

“Retaining the geographical areas of Johnston, Tiers Cross and Neyland as part of the Milford Haven School catchment area continues to provide the greatest opportunity to equalise pupil numbers across our schools, particularly given the significant housing developments likely to be delivered during Local Development Plan 2.

“The potential pupil yield arising from the Slade Lane [Haverfordwest] development alone is significant, and it is logical that they should attend secondary provision in Haverfordwest. This is an important point given the responsibility of the council to plan provision to meet demand for school places.”

“Officers are currently preparing the Strategic Outline Case in relation to the redevelopment of primary and secondary education provision in Milford Haven. Any significant change in the pupil population, e.g. arising as a result of a change in catchment is likely to add further delay, given the need to amend the project brief.”

Members voted seven to two in favour of the recommendation; councillors Paul Miller and Tessa Hodgson voting against.

Commenting after the decision, Johnston county councillor Aled Thomas said: “Deeply disappointed that Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet [that morning] voted against calls to return Johnston CP school to the Haverfordwest catchment, despite the overwhelming support from the majority of Johnston residents and indeed schoolchildren attending Haverfordwest High School after leaving Johnston Primary.”

Neyland county councillor Simon Hancock said: “I am really disappointed the cabinet did not agree to change the catchment area for Neyland children back to Haverfordwest. The cabinet papers were substantial, but I believe some of the data was incomplete or out of date.

“The very least the authority should do is to support those Neyland parents who send their children to Haverfordwest High VC School with the provision of transport. I believe there is capacity.”