PLANS to scrap bus subsidies for parents who send their child to faith schools have been criticised.

A consultation on denominational home-to-school transport has been launched by Lancashire County Council, which could cost parents £800 a year per child if the subsidy is phased out by September 2018, as is proposed.

It means bills could rise by around £200 for parents across East Lancashire who choose to send their child to the nearest faith school but live closer to an available non-faith school.

Cllr Ged Mirfin represents the Billington ward on Ribble Valley Council where Saint Augustine’s RC High School is located.

He said: “I’m firmly against the cuts, I send both my children to a faith school, St Wilfrid’s CE in Blackburn. I’m very surprised the county council are even considering this.

“They are a very important part of education and should get the same subsides as community schools.

“There will be a serious backlash from parents and I would encourage them to take every opportunity to respond to the consultation.”

Richard Jones, headteacher at St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington, said: “In an age of austerity, I appreciate the fact they have to make difficult calls.

“But equally we are committed to parents being able to take the decision to send children to their local faith school with the offer of subsidies in the same way that those who go to community schools offer.

“This is a clear case of discrimination to those whose faith is important to them and parents who want to get the very best education for their child.”

The council spends more than £400,000 on subsidising transport for pupils who attend their nearest faith school.

Parent Paul Iddon, whose daughter travels from Rishton to attend the Accrington school, said: “My issue is We are paying hundreds of pounds a year for a three-mile journey and there’s no guarantees of a place on the bus and the bus isn’t outside school at the end of the day.”