School bus fares in County Durham are set to become more expensive, as the council struggles to cope with growing demand and inflation.

Durham County Council will increase the cost of concessionary fares to £2 from £1.63 to bring them into line with similar fares throughout the region - people under 22 can currently buy a single ticket for £1 on all registered local bus services.

An initial cost of £2.80 was proposed by the authority but was later lowered to £2 after parents and councillors said it was too expensive, especially during a cost of living crisis, with the council later noting  such a rise would be “inappropriate”. At a scrutiny meeting on the proposals in March, cllr Anne Reed said the new cost could affect many families, adding: “To put it up to £2.80 straight away; I don’t know if that will be a little too far for residents.”

Cllr Ted Henderson, cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, added: “We've listened very carefully to what people have had to say, and as a result, we’ve reduced the proposed increase in charges for concessionary fares.”

Transport for almost 9,000 children and young people is provided every day, but bosses have said it must make changes to protect the future of the service. A council report states it overspent £3.9 million on Home to School Transport in 2022/23, and it is due to rise by a further £5.7 million next year. 

The fare rise is expected to raise a further £40,000 a year. 

Read more: School bus fare increase in County Durham questioned

“With increasing pressure on funding and growing demand for council services, especially statutory services, decisions need to be made about how the council meets this demand in an affordable yet effective way in the future,” the report added. 

In a bid to cut costs, the new changes also include: phasing out of some concessionary travel routes that do not fall under the council’s statutory duty and carrying out physical works to improve routes currently classified as “unsafe”, which would enable some pupils to walk or cycle to school. 

However, some people who responded to the council’s plans said if the bus was withdrawn in rural areas there is no alternative viable way for children to get to school other than their parents driving them. There is currently no appropriate public transport alternative and walking or cycling would not be safe. 

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Cllr Henderson added: “Due to increasing budget pressures, we need to make sure our home to school transport service is the most effective and cost efficient it can be.

“Unfortunately, costs have soared in recent years due to growing demand, rising fuel prices and wages, and inflation, with further significant increases forecast.

“At the moment we are going above and beyond our statutory duties and the proposed changes will bring us more in line with other councils around the country.”