Shropshire Council’s proposed 60% rise in fees for travel passes for college and sixth form students, which was due to come into force at the start of the new academic year in September, will now be implemented incrementally. The authority said increased contributions from the service users was needed to reduce the £550,000 per annum subsidy currently paid by the council towards post-16 transport costs in the county.
According to the Shropshire Star, students currently pay £550 and the original plans envisaged that figure would rise to £876. However, Shropshire Council has now revealed it plans to phase the increase over three years to lessen the immediate blow on hardpressed families. Under the new proposals, from September it will cost £658 per academic year.
Students from families on benefits will still have to pay a contribution for the first time from September, though this will be £67.50 per year instead of the proposed £142.50. The travel costs will increase to £765 per year from September DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2015 and again to £876 per year from September 2016. For those on benefits, it will go up to £105 in 2015 and £142.50 the following year.
