FEWER pupils will qualify for free school transport across Inverclyde if new cost-saving rules come into force.

Under new proposals from Inverclyde Council, only pupils who live two and half miles or further from their secondary school would qualify for free transport – a change from the current arrangement where pupils who live two miles away are eligible.

For primary schools, the plan is that children who live one and a half miles away from school would get free transport. The current policy sees pupils who live one mile away qualifying.

A public consultation has been launched to ascertain parents’ views on the matter before a final decision is made.

Councillor Terry Loughran, pictured, Inverclyde Council’s education and communities convener, said: “The council currently operates an enhanced school transport policy which means pupils living more than two miles from secondary and one mile from primary can access free school transport.

“This has been more generous than that provided in many other Scottish councils and is within the statutory requirements of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 for entitlement to free school transport, which is three miles for secondary school pupils and two miles for primary school pupils.

“The council is facing severe financial pressure and it’s appropriate that it examines all areas of potential savings to protect frontline services. 

“It is crucial that parents, carers and anyone else with an interest in our schools has their say in this consultation.

“No saving has been agreed for school transport in the council’s provisional budget for 2017/18 at this stage as councillors want to consult prior to coming to a decision.”

The consultation runs until October 31. Have your say at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SchoolTransportInverclyde