CHARGING students £10 a week for their journeys to school or college is the only way to balance the budget, education officials have said.

Officers at North Yorkshire County Council have recommended that the charge be approved following a month of consultation.

The move would generate nearly £1m a year for the authority.

At the moment, 95 per cent of local education authorities charge for the transport they provide for students over the age of 16. North Yorkshire is one of only four shire counties that does not.

The introduction of education maintenance allowances (EMAS) in 2004 anticipated that about £10 a week of that allowance would be used on transport costs.

Students whose parental income is up to £20,270 receive £30 a week through the payment scheme. This falls to £10 a week where parental income is up to £30,000.

The consultation revealed widespread opposition to the proposed charge, which works out at £380 a year.

Some parents said it would discriminate against middle income families and students living in rural areas.

Despite this reaction, Cynthia Welbourn, director of education, has recommended that councillors approve the charge.

She said: "Perhaps inevitably, all responses oppose the introduction of charging - although a small number acknowledge the financial pressures faced by the council in seeking to set an affordable council tax increase.

"Responses to the consultation confirm that this is an unpopular proposal which can be represented as being at odds with other policy drivers towards post-16 participation and reducing the environmental impact of cars.

"While the responses are understandable, however, the consequences forecast are not inevitable.

"EMAS do protect the position of the most financially vulnerable students, and were designed in part for this purpose.

"Evidence from other parts of the country where charging has been introduced does not indicate a fall in participation."

Miss Welbourn added: "The proposal was made originally with regret and in the face of a very challenging budget position.

"There do not appear to be realistic, alternative ways of achieving a balanced budget for the service."

The council's executive will make a final decision on Tuesday.