Further details on how school transport could be changed in County Durham have been revealed - and pupils are set to pay more on bus fares. 

Durham County Council currently provides transport for almost 9,000 children and young people across the county every day but is now proposing several changes.

The current price for concessionary seats is £1.63 per day but could rise to £2.80 for a return journey in line with a similar Go North East Under 19 fare from September.

The authority says growing demand and inflation has seen the cost of providing the services soar in recent years. Next year’s budget for the service includes an increase of £9.6million, taking the service’s overall budget to £29.2million.

Some travel routes could also be scrapped, as the council instead prioritises physical works to improve routes currently classified as “unsafe”, which would enable some pupils to walk or cycle to school.

A new programme to help children with special educational needs and disabilities to travel independently is also planned. 

The council says the proposals will ensure any child or young person who is eligible for the service under the council’s statutory duty will continue to receive support to travel to school.

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Councillor Ted Henderson, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Our home to school transport service is a huge and complex daily operation that involves over 1,000 transport routes and 300 contracted suppliers and we know the service is very highly valued by parents, carers, children and young people.

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen costs soar in recent years due to rising fuel prices and wages, inflation, and growing demand. More steep rises are forecast in future and we currently go above and beyond our statutory duty by providing home to school transport to pupils who don’t qualify for free transport under our statutory obligations.

“Like any service, it’s important that we deliver it in the safest and most efficient way possible. These proposals are based on an in-depth review of our home to school transport arrangements and would bring us more into line with similar councils.

“We’re seeking the views of parents, carers, pupils, schools, transport providers and other interested parties and we will be listening to what everybody has to say. No decisions will be made until all feedback has been taken into consideration.”

The consultation period runs until Wednesday, April 12, ahead of a final decision being made by cabinet members in the summer.