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Plans approved to slash school transport
HUNDREDS of parents will be forced to tighten their belts after plans to slash school transport costs were approved.
Driven by the need to reduce its £25million annual transport bill, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) carried out a three month consultation to assess the amount spent on children travelling to and from school.
Cabinet members have now agreed free home to school transport will only be offered to pupils with a statutory entitlement, from September 2012.
This means free travel will be limited to children attending their nearest qualifying school, as well as those with disabilities / special needs, and those eligible for free school meals.
Concessions for students attending faith schools will also be discontinued from next September and the cost of the annual discount SaverCard scheme will be doubled to £20.
The proposals were approved last Monday (21).
Executive member for education and skills at HCC, Richard Thake, said: "We have to significantly reduce the annual cost of home to school transport and these proposals are estimated to achieve savings of between £5 and £6million."
What do you think? How will this affect your wallet? Email Gazette reporter Siba Matti at sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk or post a comment below.
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