News that Staffordshire County Council has removed the need for vehicles used on school contracts to comply with PSVAR by withdrawing the ability to pay any separate fares at all should not be surprising.
For a cash-strapped local authority (LA), it is the most cost-effective thing to do. It avoids the need for operators to purchase compliant vehicles, at the cost of what it potentially a few pounds per day in fare revenue.
That’s not to say it is the best solution. And the issue of PSVAR is nothing new. It already applies to many coaches used on such services. The only reason it has not come to the forefront sooner is probably a lack of enforcement.
Certainly, the parents of children who are not entitled to free travel, and who will soon be unable to pay to use services, will be inconvenienced greatly.
The greater debate surrounds why PSVAR only applies to school services where individual fares are taken, and not otherwise. Why does it suddenly become a requirement when some users pay?
While the likelihood of PSVAR being enforced come 1 January 2020 appears minimal, many LAs have awoken to its implications. They are understandably taking steps to ensure that their contracted services comply, but to the detriment of some users.
One would hope that in a hypothetical situation, sense will be seen and a dispensation will be agreed for all school routes.
But don’t hold your breath on that.
