Wales: No more fares please

Delyth Isaac BBC Wales, Political Unit

Parents in Ely, Cardiff are up in arms about increased school bus fares. The Politics Show Wales reports.

In the Ely area of Cardiff parents have set up a protest group

Parents angered by Cardiff Council's decision to put up charges for school buses have set up a protest group to fight the move.

While the council blames the Assembly government for giving it a "poor financial settlement", the parents say they're the ones who are losing out.

School bus fares in Cardiff will increase from September

Cardiff Council

A spokesman for Cardiff Council said "School bus fares in Cardiff will increase from September when most pupils will have to pay the normal child fare rather than the reduced schoolchild fare which is currently available".

Steep increase

Parents say this will mean an increase of 70% for some of them, from £156 to £264. They say the charges will hit those who choose to send their children to faith or welsh medium schools the hardest.

In the Ely area of Cardiff parents have set up a protest group to campaign against the council's decision. The nearest Welsh medium school is just over two miles away and parents say they're being penalised for sending their children to the school.

The fare will be crippling for many people

Sue Reilly, Parents Teachers Association

Sue Reilly is the chair of the school's Parents Teachers Association, "The fare will be crippling for many people. Most of our parents are from the Ely area and can not afford it.

"Well off pensioners can go on these buses for free but our children are faced with these huge charges".

We wouldn't mind a small increase but this is huge

Valerie Allen, parent

"It is out of order", said parent Valerie Allen.

"We wouldn't mind a small increase but this is huge, it will be like getting blood out of a stone.

"I can't afford a car, and I thought the government wanted to get rid of congestion. They have shot themselves in the foot this time".

Reciprocal blame

The fare will be crippling for many people

While a council spokesman insisted that a "poor financial settlement from the Welsh Assembly has forced the council to make cuts", a spokesman from the Assembly government said that it is the council that makes the final decisions on how it spends the money.

In the meantime, the parents of Ely feel that they are stuck in the middle.

Now their campaign is underway they say they're determined to get to the bottom of the matter and get the decision reversed.

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