FREE cycle safety classes for children have hit the kerb after a key supplier pulled out.

Parents have reacted with frustration to the loss of the Bikeability courses, which see children mostly aged 10 and 11 trained in how to use the road.

Swindon Borough Council said government funding rules meant it wasn’t possible to offer the course for free to an estimated 1,200 children who will miss out this term. They hope to have a new training provider ready for the next academic year.

Funded by the department of transport, Bikeability courses teach children about the Highway Code and checking their bike is safe to ride. The council invited training providers to tender for the £93,000 contract earlier this year.

However, the preferred provider pulled out late into the tender process. The council said it was not possible to get an alternative provider in the time available to them.

Parents are not happy. One Lawn Primary School mum told the Swindon Advertiser that it was not good enough for the council to simply cancel the scheme this year.

Paula James, 43, whose son is currently in Year 6, said: “I think if it was something like bins going uncollected, the council wouldn’t say we’ll wait until next year. They’d just find another provider. You want kids to be healthy and kids to be safe and confident on the roads.

“There’s a government agenda to reduce obesity, improve kids’ health and fitness and not always think the car is the best way to get about. Bikeability is the best way to improve confidence in children.

“I find it a bit hard to believe that the funding isn’t available for next year. But if the council can’t get its act together, I would expect these Year 6 students to be able to access bikeability in Year 7.”

Fionuala Foley, cabinet member for highways, said it would not be possible to offer the free scheme to Year 6 student who miss out this year.

In a statement, she said: “We are extremely disappointed not to be able to offer bikeability training in schools this year. The training provider pulled out at the preferred bidder stage due to contractual issues and it was not possible to arrange an alternative provider in the timeframe available. The rules around government funding also ensure we can’t roll it over into next academic year.

“We have written to headteachers informing them of them of the situation and we are aiming to have a new provider in place for Year 6 pupils in September. We will be liaising with the successful provider to see if alternative provision could be made available to those pupils who have missed out on this year, although this would come at a cost to parents.”

Campaigners branded the loss of the bikeability courses disappointing. Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign said: “It’s vital that children are taught skills to give them confidence to make journeys by bike, particularly in light of Swindon’s increasing problems with childhood obesity and air pollution. Enabling children to travel actively rather than being reliant on car travel is an important way to tackle this.”