FAMILIES in Somerset who pay for seats on school and college transport are being asked for their views on proposals to transform charging for the services.

Somerset County Council has put forward plans to increase the fares for ‘Pay Seats’ on school bus services, to bring them in line with fares paid by post-16 students, and those offered on public service transport.

The council has a statutory duty to provide free school transport for entitled children, according to their age, and how far away they live from their nearest or catchment school.

Parents who live closer than those distances are responsible for making their own transport arrangements and funding the costs of getting their children to school. This is also the case for parents whose children attend a preferred school, which is not their nearest or catchment school.

Families who are not entitled to free transport can choose to pay for a spare seat, where available, at a charge which has traditionally been subsidised by the county council.

The consultation is asking people’s views on bringing both school bus ‘Pay Seats’ and post-16 college fares in line with the amount paid by members of the public to use public bus services.

Somerset County Council has to continue to review all its services and budgets, including its education transport policy, due to a huge decrease in central government funding.

The proposal is to introduce a new pricing structure by September 2016 for new customers. It would also apply to families purchasing an additional pay seat. or a pay seat to a different school.

Those currently purchasing a pay seat service would, however, continue to pay what they do at present – along with an expected year-on-year rise in inflation – until their child leaves their current school.

If the changes are made, post-16 students would be able to purchase a County Ticket, which would give access to buses on both the school and public bus networks. The reduced access Student Contract Ticket would no longer be available.

The full detail of the proposals and the consultation is available to read and complete online at www.somerset.gov.uk/have-your-say/consultations .

A print copy of the consultation is also available to complete and return by phoning Somerset Direct on 0300-123-2224.