A CHERITON Fitzpaine man has written to Mel Stride, the MP for Central Devon, expressing his concerns about charges he will soon have to pay to allow his daughter to continue her education at Queen Elizabeth's Academy, Crediton.

Dr Charles Sheldrick, of Crab Apple Cottage, says his daughter is 16 in August and is therefore mandated to stay in education/training until she is 17.

He explained that she currently receives free bus transport to school as the family live more than three miles away.

He said: "She wishes to continue to study at QE, but Devon County Council is demanding £500 for a year for a bus pass from this September."

He continues: "There is no service bus alternative that she could travel on since DCC's recent decision to slash rural bus services in our area.

"So dramatic has this cut been that Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Council is spending part of the annual parish precept to provide a bus service in order to stop the village returning to an unacceptable level of rural isolation.

"DCC is mandated to provide her with a place at school; we are obliged, by law, to make sure she attends but DCC are allowed to charge us for the only practical travel option.

"I can understand that if she wanted to go to Exeter or Tiverton that we would have to make arrangements, but she is not, she is planning to attend the nearest 'secondary' school.

"The bus will continue to run to take 11-16 year old students and she will not be 'taking up' a seat required by a younger pupil."

He continued: "Far from 'making a contribution' as the letter from DCC states, the £2.63 a day that they are demanding is more than the (admittedly subsidised) cost of travel on the remaining service bus to between Cheriton Fitzpaine and Crediton."

In his letter to Mr Stride he says: "I fail to understand how central government can change the rules over schooling and yet DCC be stuck in the past and allowed to charge such a high sum for what is still essential school transport?

"I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this situation and what you plan to do to resolve this matter."

A Devon County Council spokesman, said: "Devon County Council has a responsibility to provide transport for students who live more than three miles from their designated school up to the age of 16.

"The Education and Skills Act does not place a duty on local authorities to extend the provision of free school transport beyond the compulsory school leaving age of 16.

"Nevertheless, Devon operates a discretionary scheme to assist 16 to 18-year-olds going on to further education who attend the establishment designated by the authority to serve the home address.

"Parents are required to contribute £500 per academic year towards the cost of this assistance, with Devon County Council bearing the remainder of the cost. This parental contribution is reduced for those students from families on a low income."