Shropshire students being stung for travel expenses

Youngsters who have recently passed their GCSEs but have chosen not to sit their A-levels have to travel further afield to centres like Shrewsbury College to study for courses such as diplomas because none are available in Bridgnorth.

Parents says their youngsters are being targeted by over-inflated bus charges and have blamed Shropshire Council for signing contracts with operators that have left their children with large bills.

The 436 service for students travelling from Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury was taken over from Arriva by GHA coaches on July 20, on a seven year contract.

Term time prices were previously set at £165 and the passes could be used on Arriva services across the Midlands.

Passes have now risen to £199 but can only be used on the Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury route.

Parents living in villages like Alveley and Highley are also having to fork out up to another £125 to get their children into Bridgnorth on another bus operator to then use the 436 service.

Gillian Bailey of Highlands Road, Bridgnorth, said her son, 16-year-old Kyle, had to travel to Shrewsbury College because there was nowhere else running his course.

She said: "The original price was £270, which has now been reduced to £199, but that's still a lot of money especially when youngsters should be encouraged to get to college.

"My son cannot do a level three diploma anywhere in Bridgnorth and more young people from the area are having to travel to places like Shrewsbury, Telford and Wolverhampton.

"The most expensive option now is travelling from Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury.

"Our young people have been woefully let down by a council that has allowed sixth form provision in the town to be decimated.

"It has left more of our teenagers to travel out of town and put the people of Bridgnorth, who pay every bit as much council tax as those living in Shrewsbury, at a further disadvantage."

Steve Bryce, General manager of GHA coaches, said the company had been awarded the contract by Shropshire Council on July 20 and its prices were competitive with others in the area.

He said: "The season tickets for students no longer get council funding, which they would have in previous years, but all our prices are in line with other companies.

"We have taken over a combination of the 436 and 101 service – with the 101 service just operating around Bridgnorth.

"The contracts for both were with Arriva but our tender was successful.

"We already run services out of Shrewsbury to Ellesmere and Oswestry, and the 436 service is also in line with those."

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for highways and transport, said the GHA coaches services from Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth were mainly operated on a commercial basis.

"As such the setting of the fares and ticket prices are the responsibility of the operator," he said.

"Shropshire Council does not have a regulatory role in the setting of fares for such services but we understand from the operator they are currently offering an introductory termly ticket for students at £199."