Seaton councillors want a dedicated bus service for the village's pupils to the new Workington Academy but the county says it has no plans to provide the service.

The parish council asked for a dedicated bus service to be reintroduced in response to a county council consultation on the building of the new school.

Members are concerned about transport and parking at the new academy.

Paul Bramley, town clerk, said: "The parish council's view is that there could be a significant reduction in congestion in Workington at school start and finish times, particularly on Washington Street, where traffic can tail back as far as Calva Brow and on Stainburn Road, where traffic queues to access drop off points and parking in the school."

Seaton pupils do not qualify for a free bus service because the village is within three miles from the school - the limit set by the county council - and has a safe route for pupils.

The academy, a merger of Stainburn School and Southfield Technology College, will open in Stainburn's buildings next month. 

A county council spokesman said: "The council has no plans to provide home to school transport for children in Seaton attending the new academy as they live within the statutory three-mile walking distance and safe walking routes to school are available and also a cycle path. 

"For those wishing to travel by bus, Stagecoach operates a bus service from Seaton to Workington."

Seaton councillor Celia Tibble said: "The new academy is one of the best things that has happened in my lifetime for the children of Seaton and I want to make sure that transport to and from it is as safe as possible.

"There isn't a dedicated bus from Seaton to Stainburn and I feel one to the new academy would make it easier for the parents to get their children to school and there would be less traffic and parking problems.

"We're not saying it has to be a free service as we have never had a free service from Seaton, not even when I was at school.

"We had a very well-used dedicated bus but it was withdrawn by Stagecoach about 15 years ago because at the time they said they needed the bus to provide a service to Sellafield."

Coun Tibble, who used to be chairman of governors at Stainburn School, said that parents were stopped from parking on the school site around five years ago, as the cars were considered to cause a safety issue if an emergency vehicle had to reach the school.

The matter will be discussed at the next parish council meeting on September 21.  

Pupils and staff will work at the Stainburn site while a new 1,200-pupil academy building takes shape nearby. 

The academy building is due to be ready by spring 2017.