Parents angry as school bus fares may jump by 80%
Fears there will be ‘chaos on the roads’ as parents choose to drive kids in.
PARENTS have reacted angrily to the proposed scrapping of subsidised bus fares.
If Conwy Council presses ahead with the controversial move it will see fares jump by more than 80% from £150 to £273 a year.
This has infuriated parents who predict traffic chaos on the roads as hard pressed families will be forced into driving their children to school.
Conwy Council says the subsidies for some pupils living under the three mile limit from Ysgol John Bright and Ysgol Aberconwy are “an anomaly” and ending them would mean all county pupils would be treated equally.
The controversial move, which would save the authority £60,000 a year, will be considered by Conwy’s Cabinet on July 14.
Currently there are two dedicated subsidised buses from Llandudno Junction and one from Deganwy to Ysgol Aberconwy as well as two buses from Penrhyn Bay to Ysgol John Bright. If the subsidy is withdrawn, one subsidised bus to carry pupils eligible to free school transport from Penrhyn Bay to Ysgol John Bright would be kept.
One parent Liz Dingley criticised the proposed rise and its timing.
She said: “I will not be paying this increase and am proposing to take my son to school by car and pick him up but I also envisage a massive traffic problem at the schools.
“This proposal will go ahead in their cabinet in July when all the schools will be off, and presumably many parents away.”
She added: “What also irks me is that children who receive free transport because they live three miles from the school also use the same bus stop as my son and do not have to pay any bus fare.”
Cllr Mike Priestley, of Llandudno Junction, said a scrutiny committee voted in 2009 to review school bus subsidies annually which could have led to a gradual reduction in the subsidy: “They have not done what they said they would do.”
Meirion Hughes, another Llandudno Junction councillor, called for a rethink: “I agree with some parents that the proposal is too sudden and has not been properly thought through.”
Cllr Hughes went on to claim withdrawing the subsidised fares may put at risk the business of con- tractors operating the free buses or force them to raise their prices.
A council spokeswoman said: “Council officers met with Arriva Buses Wales this week to examine whether Arriva could fill the gap left by the withdrawal of these subsidised school services.
“Constructive discussions took place and information was shared so that further consideration of options could take place.”
Arriva will report back to the council next month with any proposals it may have. The Cabinet will consider the matter at a meeting on July 14.