A PROTEST will be held to oppose plans to increase travel costs for students travelling in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s Students’ Union will hold the protest on Eldon Square in Dolgellau on 1 March in response to Gwynedd Council’s plan to increase the cost of the 16+ bus token from £60 to £100.

The protest will include a mixture of students from college campuses in Dolgellau, Pwllheli and Glynllifon as well as parents and members of the public who are disappointed with the bus services in the area.

Steffan Chambers, Students’ Union president said: “Students at the college are outraged at the proposed plans to raise price.

“The bus services are unpunctual, inadequate, overcrowded and inflexible.

“Numerous complaints have flooded my e-mails and meeting agendas with problems regarding the bus service and the 16+ token.”

The Students’ Union say there are many concerns surrounding the bus services provided by the council and claim there have been many occasions where the bus hasn’t arrived on time, leaving students worrying that they will miss important examinations.

Concerns have also been raised that students are travelling on the same buses as other members of the public which leads to the vehicles being overcrowded.

Mr Chambers said: “The 16+ token is inflexible and unfair on all students.

“The token policy only allows students to travel on two journeys per day to and from college. This is highly unfair on students who finish their college day at midday or are not required to attend college until after midday.

“In these cases, students are required to pay a full adult fare on top of the current £60 a term they already pay.

“Dwyfor Meirionnydd is a deprived area with over 50 per cent of the area’s residents living on minimum wage or less. Therefore within many families, children work in order to contribute to the household income.

“In situations where a student at college is required to leave college at midday to work, they are denied because they simply don’t have the money to travel to work.

“The union believes students should have access to any bus on their designated route at any time between 8am and 6pm, this will allow students to leave college in order to work and reduce the overcrowded buses.”

The union has also proposed to council that there should be a designated bus for students and school pupils to share.

“Increasing the token price to £100 would have a massive effect on the college and the area, with students dropping out of college. It is sad parents have to choose whether to send their children to college or feed their family.

“In my opinion, the council’s proposed plans is another example of the council neglecting students needs again,” added Mr Chambers.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Whilst there is no statutory obligation on the council to provide transport for learners over 16, since September 2011, the council has implemented a new policy which means learners can obtain a 16+ travel ticket each term.

“As there has been no change to the arrangements since September 2011, the council has reviewed the provision. The policy was the subject of a scrutiny investigation by the council’s Community Scrutiny Committee, and the proposed new policy seeks to address the points raised in the investigation.

“As a result, a report will be submitted to the council’s Cabinet in the coming weeks that will recommend setting one price for all, rather than varied prices dependent on catchment areas (which is part of the current policy).

“This would ensure consistency in the provision and arrangements available to everyone, whether they be school pupils or college students, no matter where they live.”