Bus passengers in bottle terror
Terrified passengers told how they cowered in fear of schoolchildren who were hurling bottles on a public bus.
Fed- up residents are calling for action before someone is seriously injured on the Stagecoach No2 and No6 services.
Last November the Post reported that passengers said they had been hit and spat on by rowdy pupils on the bus from Prestwick Academy to the north of Ayr.
The previous month residents hit out at antisocial behaviour on the bus.
The issue appeared to stop when both the community campus police constable and school were monitoring the problem.
But last month’s Newton and Heathfield Community Council heard that antisocial behaviour had raised its ugly head again.
One community councillor said:“What is going on in the bus is horrendous.
“Bottles were being thrown up and down on the bus.
“I know one gentleman who finishes his work at 3.30pm and he walks about the streets so he avoids getting on the bus.”
One passenger warned it was an accident waiting to happen.
She said: “It is dangerous with the number of pupils on the bus.
“I was told the police and school were going to do some- thing if pupils’ behaviour on the bus didn’t improve.
“Something needs to happen because it is dangerous.”
Councillor Ian Davis, a former pupil at Prestwick Academy, said he would speak to headteacher Gordon Bone following the latest complaints from residents.
At the meeting a police officer said Stagecoach have CCTV on their buses and have a service to provide to passengers.
He added he would take the matter up with the school’s campus police officer and urged residents to raise any concerns they have with Stagecoach.
Constable Jamie Dunlop, spokesman for Ayr Police, said: “Campus officer Constable McCreadie has liaised with supervisors at Stagecoach and spoken with youths involved.
“South Ayrshire community safety officers and Stagecoach employees have been monitoring the situation for further incidents of disorder.
“People using buses should be able to travel safely and any youths involved in these incidents may be subject to criminal investigation.”
Community safety officers and Stagecoach employees have been travelling on the bus and say they had no additional complaints.
A council spokesman said: “We are reminding pupils of their responsibilities outwith school and that this type of behaviour on buses or anywhere else will not be tolerated.
“We are working with the campus police officer and Stagecoach to address concerns.”
A Stagecoach spokesman said: “We expect all of our customers to be respectful to fellow passengers at all times and we would be very concerned if that was not the case.
“We have not directly received any reports from our drivers or customers about issues involving passengers on these services over the past month.
“However we will certainly discuss this matter with the school involved.
“We would ask that all customers consider their fellow passengers when travelling with us.
“We would also urge any customers who would like to raise an issue to do so with us directly to provide us with the