POLITICIANS have welcomed a decision to delay the start date for changes to an Otley school’s bus services.

The current bus services to Prince Henry’s Grammar School are subsidised by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

That arrangement, however is due to stop after two companies, Connexions and Kilvington of Leeds, announced their intention of running services to the school on a commercial basis.

The change - which will usher in higher fares - was originally due to take effect from February 24. But the WYCA has now confirmed, following expressions of concern raised about the short timescale, that it will continue to subsidise the Prince Henry’s services until the school Easter holidays.

The changes will now take place on April 20 and the WYCA has written to the school and parents to inform them of the update.

MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) - who believes parents who are currently paying £37.80 per month for their children’s bus to school will be paying £50 under the new system - contacted the WYCA about the ‘sharp and sudden increase’.

He said: “I am pleased that the subsidy has been kept in place in the short term to allow for parents to make other choices and prepare for the price increases.

“I am still following up with the authorities to ensure that school bus passes are fully transferable to other public transport.

“Obviously we do not want to see price increases, which add to the already substantial financial burden that parents have to bear at the moment, at all.

“This serves to highlight the impact of government cuts at community level and that this Conservative Government are not working for people here in the Leeds City Region.”

Students from Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Arthington are among those who travel to the school by bus.

Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel & Wharfedale) said: “I am pleased that the changes are being pushed back to a more realistic date, which will give parents a bit more time before they have to adjust. But that doesn’t change the fact that this will be more expensive and it just puts off the issue.”

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) said: "This is something to be welcomed but it still does not solve the issue that in the end young people will have to pay more and will be prevented from using M Cards, which allow them subsidised travel across West Yorkshire."

Headteacher at Prince Henry’s, Janet Sheriff, has said she shares parents’ concerns about the impending fares increase and particularly the impact it could have on students’ extra-curricular activities.

The changes will not affect anyone who currently receives free bus transport.