Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • April 1999
PAUL SMALL School bus dangers need sorting out
Parents living in Shaw and Sparcells have expressed increasing
GAS & HEATING SERVICES
concern for their children's safety as a result of overcrowding on
Sunwisp 135 Servicing • Installation school buses to and from Bradon Forest School.
Black, tan, navy, taupe Breakdown Worries were first raised last Scott. "But we are keen to ensure
summer because children were sit- that pupils travel to school safely.
or white leather • All gas appliances
ting three abreast on seats designed We would expect the local author-
& central heating
Removable for two, or even on the floor. ity to guarantee that a seat is avail-
T-bar ° o • Landlord safety inspection Throughout the Autumn Term, able for every student."
feature • Plumbing repairs the school worked closely with He said he had not received any
Swindon Borough Council to as- recent complaints and was una-
• Emergency call out sess the situation and rectify it by ware that there are still problems
BLAYLOCKS • British Gas trained reorganising the passes for some on some routes. But he would look
Bath Road Corner • Corgi registered routes. Deputy head Phillip Scott, into the situation.
Old Town Tel: 01793 828143 in charge of transport, says the There are a number of reasons
Borough were co-operative in try- for overcrowding:
Tel: 534271 Mobile: 0378 913119 ing to resolve the situation. How- • Buses come from different
ever, they do not hold a database sources.
for travel places and allocation is • Coaches meet the standards
an ad hoc pencil and paper exer- required of their operators and
cise, which can result in children have seatbelts, while buses
catca# 4, passes for different routes. • Often, more than one bus covers
do not.
in the same family being given
"The practical and legal respon- a particular route and children
sibility rests with them," said Mr may use the wrong one.
• Swindon contracts an operator
For a new style or colour, Genbe to provide a bus of a certain size,
call in today for a Tenants to be but the operator may sometimes
use a smaller one.
free consultation more involved • The whole system is surrounded
with our friendly staff d Leiawe Swindon Council's housing com- by inconsistent legislation. Re-
Park ^g^
mittee is planning to give tenants quirements upon schools organ-
^bb a louder voice in how their es- ising trips are different to those
Du^rca^ J_ gauL s4edia tates are managed. on local authorities providing
Shaw Salon, Shaw Village Centre, A leaflet was distributed in transport to and from school.
Swindon • Tel: 874825 March describing plans to set up A Swindon Council spokes-
Local Area Panels in 23 housing woman said, no complaints had
areas. Each panel will consist of been received about the 35 bus.
six to eight people who will re- However we are aware of the ca-
ceive training and support so that pacity problems. These are being
Find Out How Ambrose House they can represent the views of looked at and in the lead up to the
neighbours. re-tendering of the school bus serv-
Can Help With Your Business Potential volunteers will be in- ice for September, we are hoping
vited to an initial meeting in April to resolve these issues. Once we
Telephone Answering and the first LAP meetings should are into April, year 11s on block
Non-Residential take place in May. release who don't travel in every
Business Support To find out more about being day will help to reduce numbers.
part of the consultation process, "Anyone concerned about the
Serviced Offices call housing committee vice-chair school bus service can contact the
Toothill councillor David Cox on Passenger Transport Unit on
Private Parking 615005. 466213."
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