SCHOOLS and councillors are leading a last-minute battle against new transport charges which they say are an 'unfair penalty' on parents of faith school pupils.

Education chiefs want to charge youngsters attending Catholic and other church schools like St Mary's Primary in Middlewich, St Wilfrid's Primary in Northwich, St Joseph's Primary in Winsford and Hartford's St Nicholas RC High School £50 each per term - £150 per school year - for transport.

But school leaders are calling on the public to back their campaign. Jonathan Williams, a governor at St Mary's, said: 'We have already sent a letter of complaint about the policy, which we feel is an unfair penalty on families who send their children to Catholic and other faith schools. We feel that this is going to hit people in the pocket, which is particularly unfair as parents of children at faith schools are already very generous in terms of their termly pledge towards building repairs and similar expenses.'

The council wants to charge as faith school pupils come from a wider catch-ment area so need transport. Mr Williams said: 'This is an issue of school locality, as the catchment area of a Catholic school is its parish, rather than its town, so youngsters from Middlewich, Holmes Chapel, Cranage and other areas need transport to come to St Mary's, their parish school. Similarly, youngsters from across Mid Cheshire go to St Nicholas RC High.'

A Cheshire County Council spokes-woman played down the impact of the measures. She said: 'We have always subsidised this transport in the past and we will continue to pay 85% of the transport costs involved in getting faith school pupils to and from school.

'We will continue to provide transport to the nearest appropriate denominational school as agreed between us and the diocesan authorities, but it would only be made available to families paying a contribution to the service, unless they meet the criteria for the charge to be waived, for example families who qualify for free school meals.'

Cheshire County Council has set a deadline of August 15 for comments. Middlewich First Cllr Paul Edwards said the response has been strong.

He said: 'I have agreed to take completed objections to the county, and so far I have collected over 100 from my area. This will affect youngsters across Mid Cheshire and beyond - even as far as Shrewsbury, as some youngsters there go to Catholic schools in Cheshire. For two to three child families this will cost up to £450 per school year. '