Bus cash halted for non-Catholics

Jessica Millest travels to the school from her home 13 miles away

Non-Catholic pupils who attend an RC school in Herefordshire have had their bus transport help withdrawn.

Herefordshire Council is to stop providing assisted places on buses for non-Catholic pupils attending St Mary's RC School in Lugwardine.

The council has denied it is discriminating, saying opportunities to assist with transport were limited.

A council spokesman added it was cutting the number of buses serving the school from September.

'Not available'

The issue was highlighted by 15-year-old Jessica Millest who travels to St Mary's from her home in Linton, 13 miles away.

For the past four years her parents have paid for a seat on a school bus, but from September the seat will not be available.

Ms Millest said she would have to make her own way to the school from then.

"It's a bit discriminating to me that I'm not allowed on the bus, because of my religion," she said.

Rob Reid, from Herefordshire Council, said its policy in the county is to assist children attending a faith-based school on denominational grounds.

'More efficient'

He said: "Where we have vacant seats on the bus we're very happy for parents to be able to pay a subsidised rate to use those seats.

"We've reorganised the routes in the area to make it a more efficient service, bearing in mind that the council tax payer picks up the cost of school transport at the end of the day.

"From September we won't be able to offer any vacant seats on that bus."

Fr John Owen, of the Cardiff Archdiocese, which covers Herefordshire, said the council's decision was "regrettable".

"As a Catholic school we have an admissions policy, which is to admit Catholic pupils and then pupils from other Christian faiths.

"It is a regrettable decision and discriminating against pupils who have chosen to come to the school," he said.

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Jessica Millest claims she faces discrimination over her religion