THE leader of the North-East’s biggest council heralded a “new world” of unprecedented public spending cuts yesterday as his authority axed free transport to faith schools.

The plan by Durham County Council, which faces having to make £125m of cuts by 2015, angered thousands of parents, teachers and church leaders who had fought to save the £2.2m-a-year subsidy. Council leader Simon Henig said: “The old world is over. This is the new world.”

More than 9,800 people took part in a consultation about scrapping free faith school transport, with the majority strongly opposed.

Council chiefs said they were aware the matter was contentious, but said there was “no other choice”.

Coun Henig said: “I have a lot of sympathy with those opposing the cuts that are recommended today... (but) the old world is over.

It finished in May last year.

“This is the new world. This is what it means on the ground when you say you are going to slash spending and eliminate the deficit in four years.”

Durham County Council spends £14m a year on school and college transport. Of that, £2.2m goes on faith school transport.

Free travel will be cut for new applicants from September 2012.

Council chiefs hope the move will save £1m by 2015. Children receiving free school meals will still receive free bus passes.

Frank O’Neill, principal of St John’s, Bishop Auckland, said: “I think the impact will be felt for years to come. This decision will change the landscape and nature of what our schools look like – both faith schools and community schools.”

Joseph Hughes, director of the Roman Catholic diocese of Hexham and Newcastle’s education service, called the decision extremely disappointing.

Councillor Claire Vasey, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, blamed the move on Government-imposed cuts. However, Tory leaders blamed Labour’s debts.

The faith school cut was part of a £6m savings plan, which will also mean:

• The distance a child over eight must live from a school to receive free transport is increased from two miles to three miles;
• Arrangements allowing children in some areas to travel free to particular schools axed;
• Free travel for post-16 students axed;
• Charges introduced for spare seats on buses and taxis for children not entitled to a free seat.