Bus firm comes to boy’s rescue

MY son, who lives in Parnwell, did not get a place at his local school with his brother, who attends Thomas Deacon Academy.

The city council decided to place him at the Voyager Academy in Walton, which is two bus rides away, which the city council pays for.

He is happy at the school and does not mind having to leave at 7.25am with a lot of other children who live in Parnwell to catch a bus because of not being able to get a place at the local secondary school.

The problem I have is with Peterborough City Council.

My son had rang me to say he had lost his bus pass.

He managed to get to school, so he must have dropped it on the Werrington bus or the walk up towards the school.

This particular day I had to take the day off work as my older son, who attends Thomas Deacon Academy, was not very well.

So my worry was how was I going to get my son home from Voyager Academy when Ido not drive?

So I rang Peterborough City Council who basically told me “not our problem; you would have to sort it”.

As you can imagine, I was not very happy here.

I would have an 11-yearold stranded at the Voyager Academy and the city council was not willing to help.

All I was advised was that I would need to get a replacement bus pass.

This did not help as I still had to get my son home somehow.

I rang Stagecoach buses who were so much more helpful than the city council.

The lady on the end of the phone said that I needed to ring the school to let my son know that he needed to ask the bus driver for a non-collected bus ticket, and this would enable him to get home and I would get an invoice for the cost of a day rider.

I would not have had this problem if my son had got a place at his local secondary school. Most children who live right in the local Parnwell area who attend the local primary school do not get places at the local secondary school .

Now if I was at work today, I dread to think what could have happened as it took me the best part of 40 minutes to make sure my son got home safe.

I wonder how many other parents have had this problem? And how unhelpful Peterborough City Council has been.

All I can say is, well done Stagecoach buses for being so helpful. As for Peterborough City Council, what can I say?

A very unhappy mum

SAMANTHA HEMRAJ

Parnwell , Peterborough

DRESSING Gown Day is a new fund-raising event launched by Action for ME, the UK’S leading charity for people with the chronic, disabling illness ME and their carers.

We are asking schools, universities, shops and offices to get involved and help us raise awareness – and funds – for ME by paying to spend the day in their dressing gown.

It’s a fun event with a serious side, symbolising how thousands of people with ME are so debilitated by fatigue, pain and other very distressing symptoms that they can’t even get dressed or leave the house.

May is International ME Awareness Month – but you can hold a Dressing Gown Day at any time. For an information pack, including balloons, stickers and Dressing Gown Day posters, e-mail georgia@ actionforme.org.uk, or call 0117 930 7293.

SIR PETER SPENCER Chief executive,

Action for ME, Canningford House,

Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6BY