A Bradford Council decision to encourage some parents to drive their children to school has raised concerns.

The Council hopes to pay more parents to drive their children to school, rather than use a free school bus, minibus or taxi.

A mileage rate paid out to such parents is being upped from 40p to 75p in a bid to make the option more attractive.

Parents will only be eligible for the cash if the amount paid out to them is less than the cost of Council-provided transport.

But the plan raised concerns at West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority’s Bradford Passenger Consultative Committee yesterday.

Committee member Andrew Jewsbury said he was concerned the Council was encouraging parents to drive children to school.

He said it might worsen congestion outside school gates.