Caerphilly Council Reconsiders School Transport Cuts After Feedback

Caerphilly schools will see school transport changes. Primary school students are now exempt from these cuts. The council decided this after public feedback. Changes will only affect secondary-school students now.

Free transport now applies to pupils living over two miles away. This could change to three miles for older students. Some students could walk up to six miles daily. The council says this aligns with Welsh rules. The council spends a lot on school transport. It went from £6.4 million to £12 million.

Costs keep growing, said the local authority. A councilor stated current policy is “generous.” Caerphilly is one of few exceeding minimum standards. Fuel costs rose, plus there’s a driver shortage. Inflation has impacted everything, said Kelly Adams.

More pupils need special learning support (ALN). This requires pricier transport options, stated Sue Richards. ALN pupils will not be affected by the policy shifts. Many people responded to a survey.

They worried about longer walks to school. Over four hundred people said they’d drive instead. The council wants to limit changes to older children. It wants to ensure student safety first.

Expert route checks will cost around £192,500. The route assessments should end in July. A final decision will follow that assessment stage. An assessment must happen for each route.

The council leader wants impartial assessments. They expect to save near £1.1 million with these changes.