Free School Transport Set to End in Monmouthshire

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Jun 2005

Free School transport for students aged over 16, travelling over three miles, is set to be abolished by Conservative-controlled Monmouthshire County Council.

The cabinet of the county council voted today to charge £200-a-year starting in September 2005 for young people to travel by bus to continue their education. The decision came despite strong opposition from the Liberal Democrats.

"This act will hit young people living in rural areas of Monmouthshire hardest. From September all students enrolling in sixth forms and further education colleges face the additional charge of £200 just to get to their classes", said Liberal Democrat leader Cllr. Phil Hobson.

"The council propose to operate a bus pass scheme whereby parents can pay by monthly instalments. The system is bureaucratic and costly and creates a complex bureaucracy where one did not exist before."

"The Conservative administration refused to take in to account the environmental impact that their decision will have. It will lead to more cars on our roads. The council didn't even look at the likely impact on the carbon emissions generated from this decision; only the savings they will make by charging 16 year olds to study."

Cllr. Hobson added, "This sends out completely the wrong message about wanting young people to study hard and gain qualifications ready to enter a competitive world. Even families on low incomes and benefits will have to pay new travel-to-study charges. People in rural areas are being hit again."

Michael German, Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South East Wales said, "Monmouthshire Conservatives claim to be the friends of the countryside yet here they are introducing charges that hit rural families hard."

Mr. German added, "I have had many letters and e-mails from angry constituents. Introducing a new tax on education was not part of the Conservative manifesto, no wonder so many people are telling me 'we didn't vote for this!"