Montgomeryshire Lib Dems call on WAG for extra funds for school transport in Powys

10.37.35am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 3rd Sep 2008

As the new term commences Montgomeryshire Lib Dems Mick Bates and Lembit Öpik are calling for extra funding from WAG, as parents in Powys face costs of up to £105 to ensure safe transport to school for their children.

This is despite guidance which states that the LEA must provide free transport for pupils, regardless of the distance they live from the school, if there is no safe route to travel.

Welsh Lib Dem AM Mick Bates comments:

"It is a disgrace that parents in Powys are being forced to pay to ensure their children have a safe journey to school. We have been contacted by parents who are facing costs of £105 per pupil for school transport this term because they live under the three mile current limit, yet there is no safe route for their children to walk." (2.917 miles away)

"The Labour-Plaid Assembly Government squirreled away the fuel rebate of 2p per litre of duty levied by the Treasury last autumn. Meanwhile, amid rapidly rising fuel prices, Powys council faces a massive burden with below inflation funding, threatening the delivery of public transport across the county.

"It is vital that the Assembly Government provides extra funding to compensate for escalating fuel prices and lower levels of tax rebate, so that the council can continue to provide free school transport and children have a safe journey to school as the new term begins."

Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik adds:

"There are many places in the constituency that are completely unsafe to expect children to use to walk to school. In many places there is no verge, there are blind bends and dips in the road that cause traffic vision problems and there would be serious problems in winter if children are forced to walk in the dark with no proper street lighting.

"I would not care to walk on many of these routes, particularly in the Pool Quay area. Everyone knows how busy the A483 is between 8.30 and 9 o'clock, the speed and amount of traffic, not forgetting the size of some of the vehicles, passing children at 60mph is an extremely dangerous and worrying thought."