School bus cuts for disabled Cheshire children reversed

The subsidies affected pre-school children and sixth formers

Councillors have reversed a decision to charge children with disabilities or special educational needs up to £880 a year to get to schools and nurseries.

The former Conservative administration at Cheshire West & Chester Council removed subsidies covering those costs in March 2014.

Now Labour-controlled, the council says it will reinstate free travel for under-fives and over-16s.

The decision will cost an estimated £88,000 per year.

Mark Stocks, the Conservative councillor previously in charge of children and education services, said at the time that the original decision to introduce charges had been "exceptionally difficult".

The decision affected pupils aged over 16 who attend sixth forms or colleges and children under five who go to nursery schools.

All councils are statutorily obliged to provide free travel for pupils with disabilities or special educational needs aged between five and 16.

Reversing the cut will cost £88,000 annually

In May 2015 Labour won control of Cheshire West & Chester Council, with a majority of one seat.

The authority's new cabinet member for children and young people, Labour councillor Nicole Meardon, said: "We decided it was unfair because in effect it was discriminating against children who had no choice which school they went to.

"Because they had particular needs they had to travel to particular schools across the borough.

"Although statutorily there is no requirement, morally we felt that there was."

The original decision was part of a package of measures designed to save £94,000 a year.

Ms Meardon said the new administration will now find ways to recoup the £88,000 per year needed to fund the change.

"We're looking at the budget, we will be making sure that budget reflects our priorities as a Labour council, not the priorities set by the last administration," she said.

The Conservatives have yet to comment on Labour's decision.