Parents angry as school bus fares increase to 'ridiculous' price

Parents sending their children on a Beaver Bus could have to pay £840 a year.

Beaver Bus, which takes children to schools across Leicestershire, has increased their fares by up to £100.

Parents sending their children on a Beaver Bus, which is an out-of-catchment service, could have to pay £840 a year.

One parent told Fosse 107 that not everyone is going to be able to afford the increase.

They said: "How do you send your child to school when you live rurally without incurring a ridiculous cost? So we are bound by this prize hike that is unjustified and unwarranted."

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Beaver Bus said: "We offer a £40 early bird discount for customers signing up before June 1st to allow an opportunity to make a saving on the advertised price.

"We also offer up to 12 monthly payments to help spread the cost of the ticket and this year have offered a 'no deposit' option."

Pupils from schools such as Lutterworth College, Lutterworth High, Beauchamp College, Gartree High School, The Hinckley Academy, St Martins Catholic Academy, Thomas Estley, Avanti Fields School and St Paul's Catholic School travel via the Beaver Bus service.

A spokesperson from Leicestershire County Council said: “Beaver Bus is a commercial service and the Council has no influence in any charges or increases by a commercial school bus provider. 

"Free school transport is provided for children attending their nearest school with space available, where the distance is more than 2 miles (primary age) and 3 miles (secondary age) from home address. Extended rights are available for qualifying low income families, which enables transport provision to one of 3 nearest schools where the distance is more than 2 miles but under 6 miles from home for secondary age children.”