THE Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales has described plans to increase travel costs for students travelling in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd as “astronomical and unfair”.

Joyce Watson has slammed Gwynedd Council’s plans to increase the cost of a bus ticket for students travelling to Coleg Meirion Dwyfor campuses in Dolgellau, Pwllheli and Glynllifon from £60 to £100 per term.

Coleg Merion-Dwyfor’s Students’ Union has warned the price hike could lead to students dropping out of college.

Campaigners from the three college campuses will hold a public protest in Eldon Square in Dolgellau on Tuesday, 1 March.

Mrs Watson raised the issue at the National Assembly for Wales on Tuesday, 9 February. During the draft budget debate, she called on Plaid Cymru’s representative for the Arfon constituency, Alun Ffred Jones, to intervene.

For the full story, see this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News, out now>