Frustrated parents are calling for a transport firm to U-turn on its "outrageous" decision to hike the weekly cost of a school bus pass by nearly 50pc.
They say Central Connect is "capitalising" on an essential service that their children use twice a day to get to Broadland High Ormiston Academy.
The 853 route is solely for pupils and takes them to and from the site near Wroxham, from Old Catton, Spixworth and Frettenham.
Now, due to increased fuel costs and driver wages, Central Connect bosses are forcing parents to fork out £28 per week for the pass - £9 more than the last academic year.
Antony Little, Conservative County Councillor for Old Catton and principal of the Hewett Academy, is furious about the change in price, calling it "unfair" for parents.
FAMILIES ARE 'UNDER PRESSURE'
Students over the age of eight get free school transport if they go to their catchment or nearest school and live more than three miles walking distance.
Aletheia Rundle, who lives in Old Catton, chose to send her 13-year-old daughter, Harriett, who has juvenile arthritis, to Broadland High Ormiston Academy as she struggles to walk long distances.
She said: "The smaller school environment supports my daughter's medical needs.
"I have always accepted that this meant paying for transport.
"What is difficult to accept is such a significant increase in costs, especially at a time when family budgets are already stretched.
"The fare needs to remain affordable."
Mrs Powell, who has a 16-year-old daughter in year 11, says it is "unrealistic" to move her to a closer secondary school during her final year.
She said: "Frankly, it is outrageous that we are being put under such pressure in a child’s most important school year.
"As a parent, I am furious at the way families like mine are being treated.
"I fully accept that I chose to send my daughter to a school outside our catchment area, at the time I felt the bus fee was reasonable.
"I expected fees to rise over time but I didn't expect this.
"Families are being left with little choice but to pay whatever they are charged."
'I'M DISAPPOINTED'
It is understood Norfolk County Council demanded Central Connect reduce the price hike from £33 to £28 by applying the 15pc BSIP government funding discount.
But Councillor Antony Little is calling for more to be done.
He said: "I'm disappointed that the council leadership haven't brought more pressure to bear when they know the pressure on people's cost of living.
"It's unfair parents are choosing between paying the price hike or their children's education."
A spokesman from Central Connect said: "We recognise that the cost of getting children to school is challenging for many families.
"Unfortunately, routes like the 853 are very expensive for us to provide.
"They require a bus and driver at school times, with no work for that driver and vehicle to do in the middle of the day.
"This year, increases in our fuel costs, driver wages and other input costs have led us to undertake a review of all of our fares.
"We are grateful to Norfolk County Council for their financial support through their Bus Grant to mitigate the scale of the fare increase on route 853."
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