CHILDREN aged eight and above who live less than three miles from their school will lose free transport to and from school if a cost-cutting proposal is approved by councillors.

North Yorkshire County Council has launched a consultation on a plan to save £570,000 from its discretionary home to school transport budget as part of a drive to cut £168m from its budget by 2020.

Currently all primary age children in North Yorkshire receive free transport if they live over two miles from their normal school, but the council is only obliged to provide free transport to those over the age of eight if they live more than three miles from school.

Children below the age of eight will continue to receive free transport if they live over two miles from their normal school, as would children with special educational needs, if they require it.

The council is also proposing to end free transport for pupils in years 10 and 11 who have moved house.

Councillor Arthur Barker, the authority’s executive member for schools, said as the council had to find nearly a third of its total budget in savings, it had to give priority to frontline and statutory responsibilities.

He said: “We are very aware of the pressures on family budgets, and the issues of school transport across our rural areas."

For details about the consultation, which runs until March 11, visit northyorks.gov.uk/schooltransportconsultation