A senior North Yorkshire councillor has admitted that the authority's controversial home-to-school transport policy contains "errors".
Wharfedale Conservative councillor Richard Foster, executive member for managing our environment, said he hoped a post-implementation review would lead to the errors being addressed and exceptions to the policy being made in rural areas.
The mew rules, which only provide free transport to a child’s nearest school, have been criticised by parents because it means families cannot get paid transport to catchment school if it is not their closest.
In some rural areas, a journey to a closer school can mean a trip over remote high ground, which can be unsafe particularly in winter.
Councillor Andrew Murday, North Yorkshire Liberal Democrat councillor for the Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale division, spoke out against the policy change at a meeting of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA).
The councillor, who like Cllr Foster is also a YDNPA member, said he had attended a recent public meeting in Kettlewell to discuss the impact of the policy change.
He added:
“The result is, particularly in remote rural areas, that families are left with very little alternative but to send their children to schools by transport that’s really on routes that are unsuitable.
“The problem is this discourages young families from moving to these areas and a school like Kettlewell, which has been under threat in the past, I think it’s the only school left in Upper Wharfedale, will find itself over the next few years under greater threat.”
In response, Cllr Foster questioned why the issue was brought up at a meeting of the national park authority.
He added:
“I think that through the policy implementation review, I am hopeful, I’m not confident, but I’m hopeful that some of these very remote isolated communities will be looked at as exceptions, because they are exceptions. I think we can all agree, really, they’re exceptions.”
The councillor said the policy was saving between £4m and £5m a year.
He added:
“(School transport) has gone from £25m to nearly £50m so we need to actually look at how we deliver this budget and what we do with it.
“The idea that some parents basically choose which school they send their child to and we pay for the transport for that child, it can’t continue if you know what I mean.
“There have been errors in that policy, I would say, where the exceptions haven’t been looked at, and that is why we’re doing the review as we speak.”
A spokesperson for the School Transport Action Group, which was formed to fight the change, said Cllr Foster was “operating on pure wishful thinking”.
They added:
“He was told that grammar schools would be excluded – they weren’t. Then he was told things would be sorted out in appeals – they weren’t.
“Now he’s saying it’ll be sorted by the delayed post-implementation review – it won’t be.
“He and his Conservative colleagues, who are all still backing this disastrous policy, need to wake up and smell the coffee.”
New owners of Black A Moor pub explain reason behind name change
Council issues fly-tipping warning as new waste rules come into force
Harrogate women crowned winners at international fitness competition
Another Harrogate charity shop to appear on hit BBC One show
Harrogate teen conquers marathon for Leukaemia charity - two days after 18th birthday
Former Ripon mayor launches 29-mile charity run ahead of 70th birthday
Little Ripon Bookshop shortlisted at national British Book Awards
Cost of school transport travel permits rise by 73 per cent in six years
Strategy aims for 60,000 hew homes in York and North Yorkshire
Harrogate Michelin-star restaurant and top cocktail bar announce joint experiences
Lidl includes Harrogate on 'wish list' for new store
Yorkshire Air Ambulance appeal as fuel costs soar
The Kestrel reopens following refurbishment
Registration scheme introduced at recycling centres
Harrogate boy campaigns for inclusive playgrounds for disabled children
London Marathon: Harrogate MP smashes fundraising target and personal best
Harrogate and Knaresborough toy library receives council funding boost
Harrogate's Blacks store reopens following refurbishment
Gail's bakery confirms it will open in Harrogate later this year
Popular glamping festival returns to Knaresborough next weekend
