College invests in free bus travel for students

Students are happy about the new free buses to Hopwood Hall College

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Hopwood Hall College has invested £120,000 in free bus travel for students travelling to its Middleton Campus.

The initiative aimed at reducing student travel costs and improving access to learning has been given the green light. Hopwood Hall College has signed-up local firm Yelloway Coaches to operate a free student Bus Service to Middleton campus, starting in September.

Four new routes are planned that will include a return service. These are: Hop 1 – Royton, Shaw, Newhey, Milnrow, Kingsway and Middleton; Hop 2 – Oldham, Failsworth and Middleton; Hop 3 – Bury town centre, Heywood and Middleton; Hop 4 – Littleborough, Rochdale, Sudden and Middleton.

Saf Arfan, Director for Corporate Services said: “This is a huge investment from the College, at a time when it’s most needed by our students given the Government’s abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

“The service is aimed at students that would normally make two bus journeys to get to College, which in some instances could cost up to £6 p/day and over 1 ½ hours in travel time (each way). Over 85% of our students claim EMAs and many apply for additional support to the ‘Hardship Fund’.

“This initiative will help reduce the cost of learning for many of them”.

Students have responded with a big thumbs-up to the news. Student Mark Lees who travels daily from Shaw using the dedicated Hopwood Hall College bus service (which presently charges 80p per journey) said: “The current student bus service is excellent, it’s always on time and the bus driver is really nice.

“The bus is always full and this idea will help make college an affordable option for us”.