Parents in appeal for free travel to schools
Scores of parents and children took to the streets of South Staffordshire to demand free travel to school for pupils.
Scores of parents and children took to the streets of South Staffordshire to demand free travel to school for pupils.
MP Gavin Williamson was among the 60 protesters on Saturday's march, which centered around the issue that half of Codsall High School pupils living in Perton are bused to lessons free while others pay £400-a-year.
"It is time that the county council acted in good faith and with a fair mind on this issue," he said.
"The rule is that it is free travel if you live more than three miles away from school and this splits Perton down the middle.
Literally there are families paying nothing on one side of the street while the same service is costing hundreds of pounds for those living opposite."
The protesters marched from Perton to Codsall High.
Mr Williamson added: "It helped to illustrate how dangerous the walk to school is with us needing a police escort to cross the A41.
A protest petition with almost 1,000 signatures backing the cause was recently handed in to Parliament and Staffordshire County Council.
Now Mr Williamson and local county councillor David Billson are set to challenge County Councillor Liz Staples, the cabinet member responsible for education to take the walk to school in the hope that could prompt a change of mind on the subject from the authority.