School bus price hike leads to private deal

In May, West Berkshire Council announced that parents with children attending Trinity School, Shaw, and who live more than two miles from the school would face a 100 per cent increase in charges for the council-run bus service, from £210 per year to £420.
However, parents who paid the fee were not guaranteed a space for their child as places for fare-payers were limited, with children eligible for free school transport given priority.
Following a stream of concerns to school headteacher Charlotte Wilson, she has sealed an agreement with travel company Morton’s at a cost of £250 per year per pupil.
Thatcham parent Philip De Monte, of Lower Way, whose 13-year-old son currently uses the Thatcham to Trinity service and who was considering staging a protest outside the West Berkshire Council offices in an attempt to drive down the cost, was thrilled with the news.
He said: “This is saving us £170, I think it’s amazing.
“It saves cars on the road and it’s absolutely great.
“How is the council going to be able to afford for the kids who get free transport if there’s not going to be farepayers?
“That’s all money that’s going to be taken out of the council’s pockets – the council’s going to end up paying for it.”
Mrs Wilson added: “It’s not something that we necessarily have done by choice.
“The council are not providing enough spaces for our farepayers so we have had to run our own – we have got over 100 children that would like transport to school but the council aren’t providing transport for them.
“I want to be sure that they can come to school safely and that parents feel confident that the children are getting to school safely and that they are here on time and ready to learn – that’s what they come to school for.”
The council will continue to provide transport for those who are eligible for the free service.