Still time to have your say on Hertforsdshire school transport cuts proposal

PROPOSALS which could end free or subsidised home to school travel for many families are coming to the end of their consultation period.

In October, the county council went out to consultation on their proposals to limit free school transport just to those who have a statutory entitlement to it.

That means that existing concessions for faith transport and all other discretionary transport would end from September 2012, although the SaverCard concessionary scheme will be retained but with a minimum charge of �20 introduced for new applicants in the same month.

The county council is proposing the changes to reduce the �25 million annual school transport bill.

Executive member for education and skills, Richard Thake, said: “For many years your county council has gone above and beyond its legal duty by providing transport on a discretionary basis to many pupils.

“In the current financial situation, we simply cannot afford to maintain this approach. This consultation is also the opportunity for us to encourage local communities and schools to design their own self-financing local travel solutions for their pupils.

Consultation ends on Wednesday, January 26, and to make comments go to the website at www.hertsdirect.org/csfconsultations

Young people are being encouraged to comment throough www.channel.mogo.org

Paper copies of the response form are available at local libraries or by calling 01438 737350.

A final decision will be taken at a meeting of the county cabinet in late March.