Madam,

I am very concerned about the possibility of the removal of the provision of free post-16 transportation to school and college.

I have five children in the Ceredigion education system, and my husband is also governor for a rural school within Ceredigion.

I feel that removal of free transportation for post-16s amounts to discrimination of rural communities. It takes away opportunity and choice for young people. Many parents may be unwilling or unable to pay the suggested costs of £390 and it may seriously reduce rural children’s education and employment opportunities.

I feel with all the education cost-cutting, we as a rural community have already been hit hard and this further reduces future opportunities. Why should rural children be directly ostracised from free education when, if you live in town, no costs would be endured. I feel this is direct inequality in education.

I feel that this is a very backwards step in a county that surely should be supporting young people at every opportunity.

Yours etc

Jenny Caulkett

Cilcennin.