Rethink demand on plans to axe special needs transport

It emerged earlier this year that disabled 16- to 19-year-olds could be forced to pay hundreds of pounds for their transport to schools and colleges as the county council was planning to axe the free travel service it currently provides to help slash its children and young people's services budget by more than 18m over the next five years.

The council is also planning to introduce charges for pupils of all ages who are transported to schools outside their catchment area for religious reasons, sparking fears that this could stop poorer children from being able to access a faith-based education.

Public consultation on the controversial plans comes to an end at the turn of the year when they are then passed on to the seven area committees across the county.

Now campaigners are pleading with the county council to urgently rethink its decision.

Coun Keith Barnes, a member of North Yorkshire County Council's young people's overview and scrutiny committee, said: "It is a big concern and the council really needs to think again.

"We have been doing everything we can to oppose this. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and these youngsters and their parents do not need the extra worry.

"It is desperately unfair and by cutting this the council will only make a saving of around 70,000.

"There also big problems with connectivity in rural areas in North Yorkshire which this will only make worse."

The authority currently provides the free transport service to 1,654 pupils across the county.

The county's corporate director of the children and young people's service, Cynthia Welbourn, said yesterday: "In the current financial climate, with our service required to find savings of more than 14m over the next three years, it is right that we examine all the options available to us which will allow us to achieve those savings while at the same time maintaining the excellence of service in our core function of providing a first class education for our children and young people."