Free transport for faith school pupils in Dunstable has been axed – with parents given six months notice before it comes into force.
From September, children who live in the area governed by Central Bedfordshire Council will have to make their own way to and from the denominational schools they attend.
While children from low income families or those with disabilities will still receive free transport, there will be a review of routes ‘to make them safer for those that choose to walk or ride their bikes to class’.
There will also be a review of how children with special educational needs ‘can find more independent ways of getting to school’.
The change, which follows a similar decision by neighbouring authority Hertfordshire County Council in 2007, follows a Central Beds consultation on the future of school transport.
In 2005, councillors in Luton considered scrapping free transport for Catholic schools in the town before finally deciding not to do so.
A spokesman for the Diocese of St Albans said: “This is not the decision we hoped for but now it has been taken, we will work with Central Beds Council as it has requested.”
Central Beds inherited its current Home to School Transport policy from the now defunct Bedfordshire County Council. Councillor Anita Lewis said: “We have had to make a very difficult decision here.
“We understand some are going to be disappointed that they will no longer qualify for free school transport but we must make our services more efficient so we can protect the critical services we provide.
“Rest assured we will now be working with parents and diocese representatives to help make any transition in September as smooth as possible.”