DISAPPOINTED parents have hit out after Coleg Cambria confirmed free transport for students would be scrapped next year, amid "rising costs and budget constraints".

The college, which has campuses in Deeside, Northop, Wrexham and Denbighshire, provides daily transportation for around 4,000 of its students.

Students who live more than three miles away are currently given free transport, but this is changing next September.

From September 2025, Coleg Cambria will provide subsidised transport for students living more than three miles from their chosen campus.

On social media, parents have reacted to the news and shared their concerns on the 'unavoidable' decision. 

"Public buses will be even more cramped", added Brittany Auld.

Lynne Chick said: "When they can't afford to get to college and get the qualifications they need, they will struggle to get employment which risks them being out of work. Crazy."

Lisa Jones said: "That's terrible. I used to go to Yale and relied on those buses as I'm sure many students do now."

Sarah Pugh added: "The likes of my son who struggles to get on a public bus now due to them being full will have no chance. This will be even worse."

Jason Jones, a student at the Wrexham campus travels to college from Corwen and has heavily relied on the free transport to get him there on time.

He said: "If they scrap the transport it will make studying difficult. Being able to afford the bus will be a huge struggle. One bus leaves at 7.20am and the other at 8.20am so it would take well over an hour to get there."

"Disgusting", says Mizzy Oliver. "Lots of young adults won't be able to afford it even with EMA", (Education Maintenance Allowance).

Daniel Whitehouse said: "Oh well, it will come back to bite the college on a commercial basis when they realise students can't afford to get there. I predict they'll lose more then gain from this."

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"Not a good move", said Melanie Edwards, who confirmed it will cost just over £300 for transport fees for her two children to attend college next term.

She continues: "It’s going to affect a lot of students like my daughter that have no other way of getting to college because like us they live in a rural place with no public transport.

"Then there’s the students who are young carers or are looking after themselves due to family issues, or they have a single young parent. It's pricing those students out of a collage education and it’s wrong."

At the time of the announcement, a Coleg Cambria spokesperson said: "To no longer offer free transport was a difficult decision but due to rising costs and budget constraints – including a lack of dedicated funding for post-16 learners via the Welsh Government and the local authorities of Flintshire and Wrexham - the decision was unavoidable.

"The college has provided free transport to more than 4,000 learners from across the region – and over the border - every weekday for many years, through a combination of contracted buses and public transport. 

"We will continue to ensure learners are informed about the availability of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and Welsh Government Learning Grant FE to assist with travel and other daily expenses."

The subsidised charge will be £90 per term for students aged 16-18 and £160 per term for students aged 19 and over. 

A Welsh Government spokesperson added: “We recognise the financial challenges local authorities are facing across Wales.

"Although there is no statutory duty for local authorities to provide free transport to post-16 learners in mainstream further education or training, there are a range of schemes offering discounted and free travel for children and young people on public transport in Wales."