Lib Dems Express Concerns over Conservative plans to shake up School Transport
The Tory-run County Council has started consulting on proposals to radically shake up policy on mainstream school transport. The current system, based on catchment areas, will be scrapped in favour of a 'nearest school' policy.
This new policy could bring with it a large number of complications; changing the travel entitlements for a large number of parents, in some areas splitting up primary school classes, in some cases sending siblings to different schools and would even send some students to schools outside of the county.
The Conservatives claim that because academies can set their own catchment area, the old policy is no longer practical, but the Liberal Democrats insist that the proposed changes are not acceptable.
Simon Galton, Lib Dem Opposition Group Leader said "This could potentially affect thousands of children and make their situations difficult.
"The historic links between primary and secondary schools will be ripped up if this goes ahead and I can see many parents will be upset. This will cause a great deal of worry.
"This whole process seems to be very rushed and I think more thought needs to go into it. It also limits parental choice for those who have to rely on school transport at a time when we're supposed to be providing more choice.
"The Tories tried to get this through before the election and pulled it themselves when they realised how unpopular it would be. Now they are having another go."