PARENTS of students affected by Monmouthshire council’s decision to withdraw the offer of transport to their school and college have said their next option is to protest if the authority continues to ignore them.

It comes as Labour group leader Cllr Dimitri Batrouni said he was told by the council that 32 children over 16 with special educational needs (SEN) had their transport discontinued at the start of the current academic year.

Gwilym Williams, of Queen's Road, Bulwark, whose son Dafydd, 17, attends Coleg Gwent, Newport said he is still waiting for the council to reply to numerous queries after asking in late August.

The teenager is only able to travel to and from college because his mother and other parents are taking him and other children – because they are unable to use public transport on their own.

Mr Williams said: “It’s still ongoing. The main problem at the moment is trying to get transport or people to give us answers and let us know."

He said his daughter Emily, 14, also has special needs and that she is entitled to transport to Caldicot School – but that there could be a further headache in the future when she reaches 16 if the council continues its current policy.

Newport East's MP Jessica Morden and AM John Griffiths have voiced their concern.

Ms Morden said: “Parents are telling me just what a struggle it is now that Monmouthshire County Council have cut the transport costs and how difficult it is for many students to travel independently. I urge the council to think again.”

Some of the parents met at the Severn Bridge Social Club in Bulwark on Saturday afternoon and have said they will work with Trellech United councillor Debby Blakebrough to find answers at the council. One mother, Kate Kronenbach, said they might be forced to peacefully protest if the council continues to fail to answer their concerns over the next few weeks.

Mr Griffiths said he understood the council needed to make cuts but that it was important that the most vulnerable are protected.

He said: “It seems to me that those with SENs are very much in that category that have particular issues that need to be understood.”

And a petition set up by Chepstow deputy mayor Cllr Dale Rooke at the weekend has attracted more than 300 signatures.

Monmouthshire council’s cabinet member in charge of the policy, Cllr Liz Hacket Pain, said last week there would be no U-turn.

She said: “The policy is made and it was made at full council.”

To sign Cllr Rooke’s petition visit: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-against-16-sen-transport-cuts-in-monmouthshire