Heledd Fychan MS Secures Debate on School Transport in the Senedd

Written by on 23rd October 2024

On Saturday, 19th October, Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, joined protesters fighting against changes to Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council’s school transport policy. These changes risk pushing more families into poverty and increasing school absences.

Under the proposed changes, many local authorities, including RCT Council, are changing the eligibility distance for free home-to-school transport from 2 miles to 3 miles in alignment with Welsh Government guidance. This change has sparked significant concern among parents.

Last week, on Wednesday, 16th October, during a question to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates MS, Heledd Fychan MS urged the Welsh Government to implement necessary changes to the Learner Travel Measure. In response, the Cabinet Secretary proposed a debate in Government time.

Speaking following this response, Heledd Fychan MS said: “I have been hugely concerned about the impact school transport changes will have on attendance, as well as pushing more families into poverty just to get their children to school. Further, there are no safe active travel routes to many of our schools in RCT. If parents do have cars, this will lead to an increase in congestion and air pollution near schools.”

 

“I have continuously raised the impact of the lack of school transport since being elected in 2021, so I am pleased that there will finally be an opportunity to debate this in the Senedd Chamber.”


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