Essex mother calls for school bus fare caps amid £3,000 annual cost
Aimee George is appealing to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman over free transport refusal.
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A mother from West Horndon is campaigning for mandatory caps on school bus fares, citing an annual cost of £3,000 for her two daughters to travel to school. Aimee George stated that rural families have limited options for transport and are forced to pay increasing fares.
George's daughters, Isla and Quinn, attend St Martin’s School in Brentwood and travel on a Nibs Buses service, which is operated by Stephensons of Essex. The family switched to annual passes after initial tap-and-go fares accumulated rapidly. Last year, the family paid £2,800 for transport, a figure that rose to £3,000 this year.
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Appeal for free transport refused
Aimee George applied to Essex County Council for free school transport for her daughters but was refused. She is now appealing the decision through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. George also highlighted that the service is classified as a commercial transport operator, meaning it is not subject to government fare caps.
George launched a petition on Change.org, which has gathered over 1,000 signatures, and has contacted her local MP, Alex Burghart, and the government to advocate for action on school bus fare costs.
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Operator and council responses
Dean Robbie, managing director of Stephensons of Essex, stated that decisions on national fare caps for school transport services are a matter for government and transport authorities. He noted that bus fares reflect rising operational costs, including fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Mr Robbie added that school-focused services have a smaller revenue base than public buses and are not covered by the government's £3 national bus fare cap scheme.
An Essex County Council spokesperson confirmed that the authority provides school transport only for pupils who meet specific eligibility criteria. The spokesperson stated that the council does not have jurisdiction over the fares charged by commercially operated bus services and that responsibility for transport rests with parents and guardians when a child is not eligible for publicly funded transport.
Questions this report answers
+Why is Aimee George campaigning for school bus fare caps?
Aimee George is campaigning for mandatory caps on school bus fares because the annual cost for her two daughters to travel to St Martin’s School in Brentwood has risen to £3,000. She believes these costs are unsustainable for families, particularly those in rural areas.
+Has Aimee George received free school transport from Essex County Council?
No, Aimee George applied to Essex County Council for free school transport for her daughters but was refused. She is currently appealing this decision through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
+What is the response from the bus operator and the council?
Stephensons of Essex, the operator, stated that fare caps are a government matter and that fares reflect operational costs. Essex County Council confirmed it provides transport only for eligible pupils and has no jurisdiction over commercial bus service fares.
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