STUDENTS STRIKE OVER LATEST CUTS

Kevin Quigley

NEWS> CNC's students staged a walk-out in mid-February to protest at the County Council's proposal to stop giving travel passes to sixth-form students. The protest took placer on Friday, February 13th, when students walked out of first lesson and marched to County Hall on Fishergate Hill, Preston. Over the past few years, students have been expected to contribute an increasing amount towards travel costs - last year a buss pass, which was one time free, cost Ł90. Now the council is planning to make students pay the full fare for travel, which could amount to as much as Ł700 per year.

The protest was organised by college students Matthew Ashton, Clare Mullady and David Miller, and around 200 students joined the march. It follows a campaign by the college authorities, including the principal, Kevin Quigley, over the threat to student transport. Kevin has written to the parents of all students at CNC as well as local MPs and councillors. He has also sought help from the Catholic education board and the bishops of Salford, Liverpool and Lancaster. The campaign follows a similar protest from Catholic schools and churches in Cheshire, where the County council is planning to scrap all bus passes for denominational schools.

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