Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

WC cuts will save about £170k a year.

A letter has been sent this week to affected parents, informing them of the proposed withdrawal of subsidised home to school transport to denominational schools.

Unlike most home to school transport, the special arrangements made for pupils attending denominational schools are discretionary, and withdrawing Wiltshire Council's funding will contribute towards the savings needed due to reductions in government grants.

The council will support schools that wish to arrange their own transport and continue to provide transport for low income families, and is giving parents and schools more than 12 months notice so that they can make alternative arrangements before the start of the 2012/13 school year.

The withdrawal of this discretionary transport service will mean that all pupils would be treated equally, regardless of their religion or belief.

The cuts are anticipated to save about £170k and will help WC to keep rural bus services operating.

The school with the highest number of subsidised pupils is St. Augustines in Trowbridge with 302 a day. For all other schools, 87 pupils will be affected.