PARENTS sending their children to a Ribble Valley secondary school in September have held a public meeting after being told they need to pay more than £500 in transport costs.

Lancashire County Council has told parents in Waddington and the surrounding area who choose to send their children to Bowland High School in Grindleton they will have to pay because Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe is deemed the closest school.

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Under council rules, Bowland was suggested to be the school of choice for parents in the area but under new rules, which will come into force in September, parents will have to pay the transport costs unless they send their children to their closest school.

The meeting was staged at The Waddington Arms in the village on Thursday.

Waddington resident Jackie Slater, 43, whose daughter will join Bowland High School’s Year 7 in September, said: “It is a significant amount of money we are being asked to fork out.

“ The council said those with existing bus passes will not have to pay while their child is still at school.

“That means I will be paying £540 for my child while on the same bus there will be children who are getting it for free .”

Nigel Evans, the Conservative candidate for the Ribble Valley in the upcoming general election, said: “This is ridiculous. They are going to have to pay more than £500 per child in order to send them to their preferred school.

“I was at a meeting on Thursday night with parents and I can understand how angry people are about this.”

Phil Huddart, Lancashire County Council’s school transport policy officer, said: “The council consulted with schools and parents in the autumn term of 2013 regarding changes to the council’s home to school transport policy.

“Pupils living in Waddington are in the geographical priority area for Bowland High.

“But, because Ribblesdale High School is the nearest school, any pupils starting in September 2015 won’t now qualify for home to school transport .

“We know it might not be possible for the school to be able to offer a place.

“Parents are able to appeal though.

“We did make parents aware of the transport changes before they completed their secondary school preferences.”