Thanks to Chris for sharing details of the latest correspondence to the Isle of Wight council in relation to discretionary concessionary travel to faith schools. Ed
A group of students from Christ the King College have launched an online open letter to Council Leader, David Pugh, and all the Isle of Wight Councillors, objecting to plans to end discretionary concessionary travel to faith schools.
Already reached 80 signatures
The letter, already backed by 80 Island students and others, complains that the Council’s own online survey on the issue is “clearly rigged” arguing that “it gives three options for the withdrawal of free bus travel, but gives no option to vote for keeping the current arrangements. That is simply unjust and wrong.”
The letter organised by Melissa Carroll (aged 15 from Ryde) and Christ the King Senior House Captain Jonny Whitehouse (aged 15 from Totland) complains about what the signatories argue is “blatant discrimination against Christ the King students simply on the grounds of their Christian faith.”
Makes a mockery of Eco Island
Speaking yesterday, Jonny and Melissa say “the move would also make a mockery of the Council’s claim that we are an “Eco Island” because forcing so many students off the free buses would lead to an increase in car and motorcycle journeys and increase the risk of road traffic accidents”.
“We launched the open letter only 24 hours ago and then used email and Facebook to alert our friends” add Jonny and Melissa “and it has really taken off. We are staggered by how quickly the support is growing and really do hope that the Council will pay it attention and rethink their plans”.
Share your view
The online letter, which also features a photograph of Cllr Pugh, can be found on Petition Buzz.
Other Island students have posted strong views alongside their signatures on the open letter:
Noah Priddle a teenager from Freshwater posted:
“it is extremely hypocritical to promote the use of public transport and being “eco friendly” to then go and remove a service such as this; especially as a large portion of people would not use the bus service to travel to school because of how high the prices are and how unreliable the service is. It seems ridiculous that a service will be provided to Carisbrooke high but not to Christ the King which is only a stone’s throw away!
Matty Gough another Christ the King student posted:
“It’s ridiculous that we’re being discriminated against for being in a faith school!”
Jonathan Biss from Freshwater posted:
“I have one brother at Chris the King, and two younger ones who are hoping to join as well, how are we expected to pay that?”
Alex Snow from Shorwell posted:
“This discriminates and makes ‘eco-island’ look like a joke!”
Within only 24 hours of going live, the online letter had been viewed over 1,250 times suggesting that it is generating considerable interest across the Island.
