Wem Town Council has written to Shropshire Council to emphatically oppose proposed cuts of transport for special education needs students and increased contribution for other post-16 learners.

The proposals are for an increase in lower rate contribution for post 16 education to 50 per cent, plus complete removal of free transport for post-16 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and nursery age pupils.

At the town council meeting last week, councillors expressed their disgust at the proposed cuts, leading to a firmly-worded statement as part of a consultation process, praising the attitude of neighbouring counties of Cheshire and Powys who support students of this age.

"For post-16 increase of lower rate contribution to 50 per cent, the town council is totally opposed to the proposed reduction," it said.

"These proposals will affect students from low income families and could make the difference as to whether a student is able to continue their education post-16 or not.

"This short-sighted proposal could result in an increase in the number of post-16 residents falling into the NEET (not in education, employment or education) category and ultimately cost the council more money in the long run albeit from a different budget heading.

"There is a real danger that if these proposals are implemented then more students may choose to leave the county to study at 16. This will further impact on the economy of the county as it could lead to job losses at sixth forms and colleges if students start to turn down places.

"[We] considers if these proposals prevent one student from accessing post-16 education then that is one student too many."

For post-16 SEND students, Wem Town Council added its 'total opposition' to the removal of free transport.

It added: "These proposals are again aimed at some of the counties the most vulnerable residents.

"It is crucial that SEND students continue to be given free transport to enable them to access support and training which in turn will help them gain confidence and skills so that they ultimately they will need less support as adults and in some cases enable them gain employment.

The lack of joined up thinking on the impact that these knee jerk cost savings will have on the wider Shropshire Council budget in future years is frustrating.

"[We] understand the need for Shropshire Council to make savings but feels that to target the most vulnerable members of society in this way is wholly unjustified and is nothing more than a tax on and a disincentive to learning.

"A joined-up approach to cost savings must be taken and the impact of proposals to cut costs must be considered holistically across all departments not by individual departments."