A decision on whether to axe free transport for children travelling to church schools for a saving of £585,000 is set to be delayed. East Sussex County Council's cabinet was due to decide whether to go ahead with the move at a meeting on Monday, May 1. A backlash from parents, the Catholic Church and the Church of England has now prompted council officers to propose a deferral of the crucial decision. Matt Dunkley, the council's director of children's services, said: "We have listened carefully to the representations made during the consultation and hope to find a solution that is acceptable both to the church authorities and ourselves." The council has traditionally provided transport for children from religious backgrounds to get to the nearest school of their faith. Reaching the schools often means a long journey for pupils, particularly for those who live in rural areas. Twelve schools in the county would be affected if the cuts went ahead. Frank Myers, from the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Catholic schools service, said: "We would welcome the opportunity for further discussion on this sensitive issue. We similarly hope that we can reach an agreement on a way forward that is acceptable to us both." Jeremy Taylor, from the Anglican Diocese of Chichester, said: "We would also welcome this chance for further discussion and are very willing to be part of the same process of seeking an agreement which is acceptable to all parties." The announcement of plans to cut the free transport in East Sussex followed shortly after West Sussex County Council confirmed it was intending to do the same. A consultation has been completed in West Sussex and Mark Dunn, responsible for schools, is expected to make formal proposals in the next few weeks.