DARWEN MP Jake Berry and borough leader Kate Hollern have clashed over the council re-running its consultation on the cost of faith transport.

The Tory backbencher said the new exercise was unnecessary and charging parents extra to send their children to religious schools outside the town should be scrapped.

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Councillor Hollern said it was the Labour leadership listening to parents.

The borough consulted on scrapping the subsidy for parents whose children go to faith schools further than the nearest one.

Darwen families fear this could cost Roman Catholics as much as £4.50 extra a day.

Cllr Hollern announced the review after a Darwen Town Hall meeting where St Bede’s RC High head Des Callaghan said he was looking at contributing to a new system.

Mr Berry said: “I’m pleased the council are reconsidering, but why are they wasting more money by having yet another consultation?

“The last made it obvious that charging families up to £4.50 extra a day is not acceptable.”

Cllr Hollern said: “We are consulting again because parents were not happy with the previous exercise.”

“As a council if we are not happy with the way something has been done, we look at it again, unlike some other politicians.

“I am surprised Mr Berry has been so ungracious.”