A CONTROVERSIAL plan to charge Middlewich parents up to £360 a year in bus fares for their children is to be discussed at a meeting of Congleton Borough Council tomorrow, Thursday.

Members of the borough council are proposing to write to Cheshire County Education Services firmly stating their opposition to the withdrawal of the discretionary subsidy on transport charges for students travelling from Middlewich to undertake full-time, post-16 education.

A flat rate of £60 per term is being considered by Cheshire County Council for all over-16s with a limit of two children per family being held accountable to the charge.

But Middlewich Town Council has already expressed its disbelief at the proposals because the town has no sixth form and students are forced to travel out of the area to continue education.

Two borough councillors Eric Gill and Helen Scholey, who is also a Middlewich town councillor, have put forward a notice of motion for tomorrow night's borough council meeting at Alsager Civic Hall.

The following notice has been submitted: "Middlewich has no facility for full-time post-16 education, therefore to withdraw the discretionary subsidy on students travel is unfair to Middlewich residents. This council urges that the county council takes account of the special situation that pertains to Middlewich students and exempts them from any charges that may be imposed."

Borough councillors look set to join the campaign already underway by Middlewich councillors and schools to fight the controversial plans.

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