School faith transport scheme could end next year

A council scheme that provides subsidised transport to faith schools in Nottinghamshire could end next year.

Nottinghamshire County Council has been reviewing its discretionary bus service for Catholic and Church of England schools due to financial pressures.

A report prepared ahead of the Reform UK-run authority's cabinet meeting on 16 July recommends it stops the discretionary transport from September 2027.

The council has said it was facing "significant financial pressure" and any savings could help it achieve its plan to save £45m over the next three years.

The authority said about 520 pupils travelled on its buses to faith schools either with a discounted bus pass as part of the scheme or on an ad hoc basis.

Councillor John Semens, deputy cabinet member for transport and environment, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We're aware this is a very sensitive and emotive issue, but as all councils in the country, we're all under the same financial strain and this is a discretionary service, it's not part of our statutory obligations.

"We need to make sure it's fair and equal when you're using public money... we've pledged to find savings where we can and one of the areas we're going to look at is the non-statutory services we provide."

Semens said it was estimated about 22% of the 520 impacted pupils would not have access to their school with public transport and the authority "fully recognises the upheaval that may cause".

The authority has said any changes will not impact pupils from low income families as a mitigation package will be available.

James McGeachie, CEO of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, previously said: "Many travel a long way to get to our schools and if they were forced to use public transport that would require two buses and walking between stops which isn't safe.

"Another concern is that parents would have to consider moving their child."

The authority has said if no changes were made to the scheme, the cost over the next six years would be up to £7.5m.

A total of 14 schools will be impacted by any cuts with two outside the county, one in Ilkeston and another in Doncaster.

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.