IT is not often I write to the Weston Mercury, but you published a letter from John Carter that needs a reply! North Somerset Council has a legal duty

IT is not often I write to the Weston Mercury, but you published a letter from John Carter that needs a reply! North Somerset Council has a legal duty to provide transport to school for all pupils, under the age of 16, who live more than two miles from their nearest school. The LEA does not have to provide transport for pupils whose parents insist they attend another school further than two miles, if there is an LEA school inside two miles.This rule applies whether parents chose a school where they prefer the school uniform, want single sex education and the nearest school is co-educational, want a particular religion (RC, C of E, Muslim, etc.), or prefer the social mix (or lack of this). Exceptions are made for pupils who require particular special education.It seems very reasonable for North Somerset Council to stop providing free transport based on a religious preference, when it is not providing this for any other reason. John may have a point when he writes "isn't it all part of this sad country to destroy the teaching of decency and morality?" but what has this got to do with whether a child attends a faith school or not? All four of my children attended Churchill School for seven years, where they received a wonderful but secular education. One now teaches in a C of E comprehensive and another in a Roman Catholic comprehensive.RALPH GILES - Verlands, Congresbury