Powys County Council have made changes to school transport for pupils attending Brecon High School, which has led to chaos this morning with pupils missing buses and not getting to school. Despite Powys Council assurances that all impacted households had been contacted about the changes, there are many families who were unaware of the operational changes coming into force this week.
The changes by the Liberal Democrat-run Council will see many children having to get two buses, leaving them waiting at the side of the road for a considerable time before getting a second bus to Brecon. There are concerns about children having to leave home much earlier than usual, and then waiting for a significant period at the roadside for their next bus with waiting times for a connection reaching 40 minutes.
In an email to the Powys Council Cabinet about the situation, Evans asked “as a matter of urgency, I ask that you communicate with all parents affected so that they are aware of the operational changes to their bus routes.” He added “I would like to see sight of the risk assessments carried out by Officers that support children as young as age 11 being left at the side of the road, waiting for 30+ minutes with no shelter from the weather and unsupervised.”
James said:
“I am concerned about the way this whole thing has been handled. Parents haven’t been informed properly and it has been botched from top to bottom.
“The changes aren’t good for children – they shouldn’t have to wait an age for connecting buses to or from school, and there are serious questions about their safety when they are waiting.
“I have demanded answers from the Council, and they need to get on top of this immediately. Parents need to feel comfortable sending their children to school on public transport, and these wait times and safety issues are unacceptable.”
