A DECISION was made tonight (Thursday, July 14) to end free bus travel for children at faith schools across Stockton borough.

That was despite the presence of up to 200 parents, teachers and priests protesting outside and inside Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet meeting at Stockton Baptist Tabernacle.

Axing free transport for mainly Roman Catholic and Church of England pupils from September 2017 will only save £20,000 in the first year, but that will rise to £100,000 by 2021/22.

Stockton council blames severe cuts in central Government funding. The authority has already cut £52m from its budget since 2010 and must make an estimated £20-£21m more by 2020. It’s hoped the churches and schools might pay for the transport.

However, objectors pointed to the relatively small amounts of money involved and children’s rights to a spiritual education.

The worst affected are thought to be Catholic youngsters attending St Joseph’s RC Primary in Norton and St Michael’s RC Academy, a secondary school in Billingham.

There has been a connection between the two schools and currently about 200 pupils from Norton are bussed to Billingham every day.

Many parents spoke at the meeting and some held placards with slogans including ‘We Have no Faith in our Council’ throughout.

One affected parent and scout leader, Richard Jenkinson, said: “If you had made the decision for all the children in the borough I could possibly accept it. But you are not treating everyone equally. You are picking on a certain demographic because you believe the cost can be met by the diocese.”

In response, Cllr Ann McCoy, in charge of children’s services, stressed the most vulnerable children throughout the borough had to be protected first.

Council leader Bob Cook said it didn’t want to impose the cuts and said the strategy was to make a large number of smaller reductions.

Deputy leader of the council, Jim Beall, blamed the Government. He said: “We’ve had the secretary of state (for education), who I think has gone now, making nice sounding words about this. But I didn’t hear any reports about her standing up in cabinet and asking for money to go with those nice sounding words.”

The cabinet unanimously agreed to end free transport for faith school pupils.