Whittington walk decision an insult
I’m angry!
Most youngsters in Whittington village get free school transport to King Edward VI school in Lichfield because they live over 3 miles away. But a handful live a matter of yards under the 3 mile qualifying limit and so have to pay £390 a year each for school bus seats. It means, for instance, that there is free travel at no. 54 but a £780 charge for the two children next door at 52.
Now I do accept there have to be rules and limits but they do need to stand the test of being obviously fair and 
reasonable and I don’t think this situation does. Somewhere like Whittington is a populated area surrounded by a lot of countryside. Wherever someone lives in that village they’ve got the same journey to Lichfield. In practical terms there is no difference between walking exactly 3 miles or 50 yards under 3 miles. Why not use the ‘village boundary’ as the basis for free travel in rural areas? In Whittington it would mean 30 youngsters getting on the bus for free instead of 21 going for free and 9 having to pay the £390 each. To me using the settlement boundary as the cut off seems a fairer compromise.
This really kicked off last year because at the previous £190 cost for each child parents were just about able to stomach it despite the obvious unfairness. But County Labour’s doubling of the cost of a seat to £390 has tipped many over the edge both financially and on a point of principle. Some of my constituents were faced with a £1200 bill just to get the kids to school. As for the alternative walk that youngsters who can’t afford the travel have to make the County have announced this week they’ve reviewed their original decision which I formally objected too back in 
August and have upheld the 3 mile walk as safe.
The County have taken months to decide that Whittington Common Lane and Darnford Lane are safe for 10 year olds to walk all year round in daylight or darkness. And to add insult to financial injury the County also maintain that ‘parents should take time off work to walk with them’ if they can’t afford the new school bus fees.
With the state of the current jobs market that is just not practical and I must say pretty insulting. I talked to one of my constituents who is affected by this and he has had to return to the school run by car adding to congestion and adding real pressure on to his working day. He just about coped with two lots at the original cost but just like others the price hike is just not possible to absorb.
I’m not done with this issue yet. I’ve now made a Freedom of Information request for all the associated emails, paperwork and notes behind this issue. The information I receive will help me decide what to do next. I’m certainly going to continue pressing hard for a rethink on the rules because currently it’s not fair or equitable.
I’m also meeting Conservative colleagues next week because following this debarcle we’ll be announcing a root and branch review of the rules and the way in which school transport is provided across Staffordshire. I’m determined to see the current unfair and outdated system scrapped and also investigate how much taxpayers are paying over the odds for Labour’s beloved yellow school bus service.
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5 comments
I feel that it is totally wrong for children to have to pay to get to school.
What are the rules relating to free or subsidised travel and are they set by central government or the county?
I remember that when I was at school, some say that needs a good memory, that the calculation was from the centre of the village I lived in to the centre of the village in which the school was. This made it under the 2 mile limit that was used at that time even though the school was 1/2 mile further on. Presumably this sort of calculation is not used in Whittington as it would mean free travel for all. However if the village boundary was used possibly no-one would get free travel!
On the yellow buses are they used for anything other than school transport? If not this must be costing much more than hire of a ‘normal’ non yellow bus so it will be interesting to see your comment when you see the costs.
In response to Ian Lewin’s comment, the national guidelines are, just that, guidelines. Like many area of policy, central Government provide a baseline minimum but authorities can vary what they do according to political priorities.
The Labour County Council could change the criteria if they wanted to but, in my view, the considerable cost of a bespoke yellow bus fleet is prohibitive as can be seen by the fact that Birmingham charge £190 for a school bus pass where Staffordshire has risen to a whopping £390.
Staffordshire County Council were on the news again tonight in relation to their refusal to adopt precautionary 20mph speed limits outside schools. What are these people on?!!
I am really disapointed in the dicision made by Staffordshire County Council as we are directly affected by this decision.!!!
We as a family can not afford the cost of £390 per child. I have two sons who attend their local catchment area school, so the cost to send my sons to school is £780 for the school year. As we are unable to afford such an amount I have been told my children should walk to school accompanied by myself. I agree my children would be safe but this would be just under a twelve mile daily round trip for my two youngest sons, are aged 8 and 6. They would have to make these journeys with their elder brothers as i have no one else to care for them at that time on mornings and afternoons. Day in day out i do feel this will have a profound effect on my sons as they will be shattered, soaked ,cold, etc depending on the weather on the day.
The route is secluded with no streetlights, no footpaths ,poor visibility resulting in constantly crossing from one side of the road to the other.
I really hope Staffordshire County Council start to see sense before it is too late.
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