School Transport Policy Unchanged

Last year the proposals to change the way that school transport was funded caused much anger in Tarvin. By a fluke of geography and the distance of only a few hundred yards, it was shown that Tarporley High School was not one of the three secondary schools closest to Tarvin and thus pupils attending it would NOT be eligible for free school transport.

The fact that Tarvin has been a major feeder Primary for Tarporley High and that a journey to the 'free' schools would involve a trip down the congested A51 to others currently at capacity, carried no weight in the argument, and the proposals were approved.

A mitigation fund of £25,000 was apparently set aside to help ease difficulties for two years but no indication has been given about how this might be applied. Tarporley High has agreed to divert funds away from teaching to help the situation, hardly the best use of its own scarce funds.
The Parish Council, along with many parents in the Parish feels that the policy should be changed and hope that the change in party control of Cheshire West and Chester Council at the May Election may provide an opportunity to reconsider and reverse the decision. The Parish Council is particularly incensed by the fact that this change will save a very small amount of money, if any.

The meeting (June 22nd) agreed to write to the new leader of CW&C Councillor Samantha Dixon, to ask her to address the issue as a matter of urgency. The Parish Council also suggests that residents who feel strongly about this should add their own voice to the campaign, either by writing to the Council Leader, or by contacting either of their two local borough Councillors, Hugo Deynem, hugo.deynem@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and John Leather, john.leather@cheshireweatandchester.gov.uk and asking them to support the campaign to reverse the policy.