CONCERNED parents fear they will no longer by able to send their children to school after bus fees were reportedly doubled.

Parents say school bus fees at St Leonard’s Catholic School, in Durham, have risen to £4.50 a day with many fearing how they will pay.

Frustrated parent Sarah Cairns, of Esh Winning, has two children enrolled in the school

She said: “For my two children it’s going to go up to the £170 a month mark. I don’t know how people are going to afford it especially at a time when people are being put on furlough and being made redundant.

“How can the school justify this?

“It’s much more expensive than other schools in County Durham. Parents don’t know what to do. They’re not thinking about the cost and about children’s safety. People are even thinking of sending their children to different schools.”

The frustrated parents said they have have complained but nothing has been done.

Sarah Arrowsmith, whose son is about to go into year nine said: “It’s stressful because I cannot pay that amount. We’ve been trying to sort mini buses but they are still contracted out to different schools. It’s really hard to find a bus.

“There’s public transport but I don’t really want my my son getting off at Durham Bus Station. A lot of parents have complained but they are not interested. It’s just a nightmare.”

Several parents said they would not use public transport as the children would have to get off at the bus station and they would not like the children walking to school on dark winter mornings.

They said the public buses reach school by around 8am but claimed the school gates do not open until 8.30am.

Jim Murray, head of education and skills at Durham County Council, said: “We sympathise with St Leonard’s, as well other schools across the county, and parents who are facing additional costs for the provision of school transport due to changes in national legislation relating to accessibility and increased contract costs.

“As a council, we have a statutory duty to cover the cost of those children entitled to free transport in line with national guidance and we continue to meet those requirements.

“However, broader school transport is not a council service and, while we deliver some schemes on behalf of schools, its costs have always been set by each school’s governing body who can decide how to split the costs between the school budget and parental contributions.

“We are happy to work with St Leonard’s to help them identify the best way forward.”

Durham City MP, Mary Foy, raised the issue with he Minister for School Standards recently.

The Northern Echo:

She said: “I have been struck by the sheer number of parents who have contacted me about the rising cost of bus services at St Leonard’s. Many have outlined the serious financial strain that this added expense will place upon their family budgets, with travel costs rising to £70 or even £90 a month per child in some cases.

“At first glance this may appear a standalone issue affecting families at one school, however, I know that this issue goes far beyond Durham. High school transport costs, price children out of educational opportunity and place more cars on already congested streets. Neither of these outcomes are in keeping with the Government’s stated goals of ‘levelling up’ or achieving net zero carbon emissions.

“That is why I was disappointed that during my recent meeting with the Minister for School Standards that the Government would not commit to take action to reduce transport costs for parents such as those at St Leonard’s.

“I am under no illusion just how disappointing this news will be to parents, but I fully intend to keep raising this matter at every opportunity. I am committed to working proactively alongside parents, school staff and the relevant authorities to explore options which could reduce the cost impact on families.”

The Northern Echo contacted the school for comment but did not receive a response.