FREE bus passes for hundreds of Calderdale schoolchildren are to be axed.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet backed plans to end free transport for certain youngsters from September 2014.
Support will end for youngsters at faith schools and those who attend Calderdale schools in preference to closer schools in neighbouring authority areas.
The Cabinet this week decided to end the free passes and will recommend full council backs the decision.
The move will save the authority £62,000 a year once fully implemented.
Cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, Clr Ashley Evans, told the meeting there were 177 children at faith schools receiving help and 214 who could go to schools closer to home.
Clr Evans stressed changes would be phased in so no children currently receiving help would lose out.
“It is recommended we make the changes for new pupils from September 2014 and not remove support from any young person who currently qualifies,” he said.
Clr Evans added: “The buses will remain but some will be charged. Pupils from low income families will be protected.”
Conservative leader Clr Stephen Baines told the meeting his Northowram and Shelf ward would be worst affected by the changes.
That was because the ward was on the Calderdale-Bradford border and parents preferred Calderdale schools to those in Bradford which may be closer.
