THE row over subsidised school buses in Chepstow could be resolved tomorrow.

Monmouthshire county council confirmed the school transport appeals panel is to meet at 10.30am in the town's Drill Hall.

However, parents said they fear the panel will not be independent because it has two Tory members.

The three councillors on the panel are Peter Clarke (Cons, Llangybi Fawr), Mike Smith (Lab, Rogiet) and Robert Hayward (Cons, Dixton with Osbaston).

Hundreds of pupils now walk two miles or get lifts to Chepstow Comprehensive School from their homes in Bulwark and Thornwell after the Tory-controlled county council axed the buses two months ago.

Parents and pupils conducted a high-profile campaign to get the buses reinstated, organising protests and a rush-hour march through the town.

Earlier this month they targeted a council meeting in Cwmbran which chairman Val Smith was forced to abandon for 30 minutes amid angry scenes, after several interruptions from the public gallery.

Pauline Thomas, of Middle Way, whose 13-year-old son, James, attends the school, said: "We have gathered all our evidence and are going to put our appeal across.

"We hope they can come to a common sense judgment and get our buses back as soon as possible."