Shropshire students could face hike in travel fares
Students across Shropshire could see a huge hike in the cost of travel.
Proposals put forward by Shropshire Council could see the cost of travel for students aged 16 and over increase from £550 to £876 per academic year.
A consultation process is currently under way and is due to end on May 12.
In a letter sent out to parents and other interested parties including parish councils, secondary schools, council members, Andy Evans, principal network solutions officer at the council, said: "Shropshire Council provides help with transport assistance to college and sixth form for entitled students under the terms of the council's policy. I wish to inform you that there are no proposed changes to the entitlement rules of Shropshire Council's Post 16 transport policy for the 2014/2015 academic year.
"The transport industry has and still is susceptible to rising costs and over a number of years the council has tried to limit the impact of this on student travel.
"However, there is a need to address the disparity between the cost of a bus pass to the council and the income it receives in contributions from students/parents, to continue to provide assistance in this area."
He said fromSeptember the proposed contribution levels for students not on defined benefits, for example families on income-based jobseekers allowance, income support, free school meals or child tax credit where the current income is less than £16,190, will be the equivalent to £2.43 per journey or £292 per academic term.
For students who are currently on defined benefits, the proposed charge is £47.50 per academic term or 40p per journey.
He added: "The price was set after collating cost figures and had established that the average annual cost of a season bus ticket was £876.
"This brings the council's proposed scheme in line with the market average cost. This proposed increase is still under consultation which ends on 12 May."
A parent, who did not wish to be named, but whose son attends Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, said: "If the consultation finds that this should go through it will see the cost of my son's travel going from £550 to £876. That's almost a 60 per cent rise.
"If a student lives within three miles of their study centre or college they get nothing. If they live outside that they are entitled to help by the state. But anyone over the age of 16 has to pay. Education over the age of 16 is seen as a luxury here in Shropshire. I used to live in Buckinghamshire and the situation was different there. Free education was brought to us by the Victorians but now in 2014 they are charging to educate children further. It's mad."
Following the consultation, a decision will be reached within the council and the policy on the matter will be published before May 31.
