STUDENTS in south Wiltshire could be forced to pay more to get to school under proposed changes by Wiltshire Council.

Under proposals, students attending Bishop Wordsworth’s and South Wilts schools who live more than three miles away would have to fund their own travel, which is currently paid for by the council.

There are currently 555 grammar school pupils who receive the free transport, which costs the council £366,000.

The proposals also include stopping new applications for ‘continuity transport’, where a child moves to a different area but the transport to their previous school is paid for by the council.

Those already receiving free continuity transport will continue to do so.

For post-16 students’ travel, the council is proposing an increase in the amount students who live more than three miles away are asked to pay, from £446 to £625. The average cost to provide post-16 transport is £843 per student per year and the balance is funded by the council.

There are 1,800 students aged 16 or over travelling to school sixth form or further education college who live more than three miles away.

The proposals would see no increase in transport charges for low income families where the cost will remain at £156 a year, or for students with special educational needs who pay either £156 or £446 per year currently.

The council has begun a consultation following an increase in the number of young people requiring school and college transport in the county.

It currently has a £7.8m bill for home to school transport for 10,000 pupils.

A spokesman said: “Wiltshire Council currently subsidises post-16 students’ transport costs although there is no legal requirement to do so. The subsidies are made as the council recognises in a mainly rural county affordable transport is important to help students attend school or college.

“The council faces significant financial pressures, with reduced funding from central Government, increased service demand and inflation, and these pressures are likely to increase. Savings need to be made to help deliver the council’s priorities of protecting vulnerable people, boosting the local economy and bringing communities together.”

The consultation is available at wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm and people are invited to give their views until noon on October 19.