Students to protest at open day over University of Wolverhampton's decision to axe free bus service
A post-graduate student at the University of Wolverhampton is planning a protest next month to warn the prospective intake of next year an inter-campus bus service is being axed.
Naomi Glynn will suffer financially from the loss of the free bus service between the Wolverhampton, Walsall and Telford campuses, announced earlier this week and due to come into effect at the end of this month.
She already has the support of between 60 and 70 students who will leaflet prospective students outside the main Wolverhampton campus at an open day on August 17 and make them aware of the cuts.
Naomi, aged 32, will be starting the second year of an MSc in Occupational Therapy in September and lives with her mother in Castlecroft – she said the service was 'vital' to her and other students who travel to Telford or Walsall up to five times a week.
She said: "Just for me, the cancellation of the service will mean paying around £64 a month for the Banga Bus service which goes to Telford, although not to the campus.
"I already pay around £46 a month for a Travel West Midlands pass to get into Wolverhampton and have to pay room and board at home plus £9,250 course fees.
"But it is not about me or just the costs, it is about all the students already here and the ones who are planning to come and study here in the next academic year and would have accessed the service.
"This significant change forces students to shoulder additional financial burdens and contradicting the promise of accessibility and support, particularly when the cost of living is soaring.
"For example to get to Telford by train is possible but apart from the cost, it is then a 25-minute walk to the campus which is not viable for some students.
"We aim to highlight these issues when students from all over the country will be coming to the university as part of the process of deciding where they go to study and make sure they are aware."
A spokesman for the university said it had taken the "difficult decision" to stop the service from 31 July.
He said: "We have looked closely at the usage data which shows that each bus trip is costing the university approximately £10.
"Our priority is to enhance the student academic experience and invest in student services and facilities on campus, which makes this cost difficult to justify.
"We are working closely with staff and students who use the bus service to ensure they are supported in finding alternative ways to travel between our campuses."
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