Free Bus Travel for Children attending Private Schools

At yesterday's Cabinet meeting, KCC’s Tory administration today agreed to subsidise 11-16 year olds attending private schools in Tonbridge, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells. The scheme costing £3million per year comes at a time when KCC’s Tories are claiming to be strapped for cash and are proposing raising the Council Tax by almost 5%.

Ray Parker County Councillor for Northfleet and Gravesend West said: “I’m appalled that the Tories in Kent are hitting hard-up families to subsidise those who can afford to send their children to private schools”.

The trial scheme will run for two years in some of the most affluent areas in the county. Areas like Gravesham, Dartford, Dover, Thanet and Swale with high levels of social deprivation are ignored. There has been no examination of need in connection to the pilot areas."

Ray Parker went on to say: “I’m currently fighting KCC to get free travel for a child who had to move to a school almost five miles from his home because of bullying at his previous school. His mother can’t afford to pay for the bus fare as she’s on a low income, and here we have children whose parents can afford thousands of pounds a year in private school fees being offered free travel. There is something morally wrong with this proposal”.

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Ray Parker County Councillor Northfleet & Gravesend West.