Council loses faith in free school bus

ELLEN FRAMPTON

Central Bedfordshire Council agreed its new Home to School Transport Policy at an executive meeting yesterday.

As part of the changes, children at faith schools will have to fund their own transport from September. At present, transport is provided for around 300 children to attend the nearest school of their denomination.

This costs £2,000 per pupil per year, significantly more than children at mainstream schools.

Under the new policy, only children over the age of 11 who meet the low income criteria will be entitled to free transport where the closest school is between two and 15 miles.

Mums4Democracy, a local campaign group of parents whose children attend faith schools, protested outside the meeting at Priory House.

One member, Maria Pires of Ivel Gardens in Biggleswade, said: “It is disgraceful and we can’t believe this has happened.


She emphasised how difficult it is for working parents to arrange school transport for their children and said: “I will have no money for this and I can’t raise any more.


From the next academic year only children living more than two or three miles from their school, or those who could not be reasonably expected to walk to school, will be eligible for free transport.

Cllr Anita Lewis, portfolio holder for children’s services at the council said: “We have had to make a very difficult decision here.

“We understand some are going to be disappointed that they will no longer qualify for free school transport but we must make our services more efficient so we can protect the critical services we provide.

“Rest assured we will now be working with parents and diocese representatives to help make any transition in September as smooth as possible.”