To Norfolk County Council and Local Transport Authorities,

We, the undersigned, call for the introduction of a direct bus service connecting Cromer, Mundesley, and North Walsham to Easton College.

Easton College offers outstanding vocational and diploma courses, including highly regarded Entry Level to Level 3 Diplomas. These are especially valuable for students who thrive in practical, hands-on learning environments rather than traditional classroom settings. Such courses are not available at Paston College or Norwich City College, leaving Easton as the only realistic option for many local students.

Currently, transport links from Cromer and surrounding areas are extremely limited. For example:

• Students from Sheringham must catch a bus as early as 7:05am.

• Those travelling from Cromer face a 20-minute car ride before even reaching this bus.

• Students from Mundesley face even greater challenges, often needing a 35-minute car journey just to begin their commute.

• Once on the bus, travel times exceed 1 hour 30 minutes, creating exhausting 12-hour days for young learners.

• As well as these early starts, this places pressure on working parents who must manage drop-offs, and on families with additional younger siblings to get to school, making it a long and difficult day for everyone involved.

This situation places an unfair burden on families and students in North Norfolk. It risks discouraging participation in further education and disproportionately affects those who most benefit from Easton College’s specialist provision.

Introducing a direct bus route would:

• Provide a safe, reliable, and time-efficient journey for students.

• Ensure equal access to education for young people across Cromer, Mundesley, North Walsham, and nearby areas.

• Support families by removing the need for long car journeys just to connect with existing services.

• Increase attendance and punctuality while reducing student fatigue.

We believe the demand exists to fill such a service, given Easton College’s strong intake and the unique opportunities it offers. Other counties and institutions have implemented similar dedicated school/college routes with great success, improving both travel efficiency and parent satisfaction.

We urge Norfolk County Council to prioritise the wellbeing and educational access of young people in North Norfolk by establishing a direct morning and afternoon bus route between Cromer, Mundesley, North Walsham, and Easton College.

Together, we can ensure our children and young people have a safe, straightforward, and supportive way of reaching the education they deserve.

Make your voice heard. Sign this petition to support a direct bus route to Easton College!