Council Finds £1.2m for Cheap Holiday Bus Fares – But Not a Penny for School Transport
While families across Rhondda Cynon Taf are being told the Council cannot afford to provide school transport for pupils living under three miles from their comprehensive or college, the same Council is proudly announcing yet another round of subsidised bus fares – this time during the school summer holidays.
From Saturday 19 July to Sunday 31 August 2025, all bus journeys that start and end within the County Borough will cost no more than £1.50 per single journey. It’s being promoted as a way to “encourage people to explore” and “support local attractions” – with no mention of the hundreds of students now being forced to walk up to six miles a day to get to school.
This is the seventh time since summer 2023 that the Council has funded reduced bus fares for leisure travel. Meanwhile, pupils from some of the most deprived communities in Wales have lost their right to a school bus – despite rising concerns about safety, lateness, and attendance.
The Council claims the fare cap is needed to fight the cost-of-living crisis. But for many families, the real crisis is being forced to choose between paying for daily bus fares or sending their children to school at all.
The reduced fare scheme is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, which awarded £1.2 million last year, with a further £1 million allocated for 2025/26. Yet none of this money is being used to restore or protect school transport for young people who rely on it for their basic right to education.
“We’re delighted to offer cheap travel again,” said Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. “This helps residents save money and explore our town centres and attractions.”
But there is no mention of the students left walking dangerous roads in all weather, while the Council prioritises holiday travel and leisure over learning.
Parents and campaigners say it’s a matter of fairness: if money can be found to subsidise buses for shopping trips and days out, it should also be found to ensure every child can get safely to school.
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