More services to help children travel

Through your letters page we’d like to thank all the parents who have been in touch with us over the past few weeks to voice their frustrations and concerns about B&NES Council’s cuts to school transport for children travelling to Writhlington School only. Parents of children living near a public bus stop received a letter from the local authority’s transport department in the middle of August saying designated buses would no longer be provided and they’d need to catch a public bus to Radstock and walk up the hill to Writhlington. Over 30 families with children in Years 9, 10 and 11 at Writhlington School have been affected. The decision was taken without any consultation, and certainly didn’t give parents enough notice to make alternative arrangements for their teenage children. We should be looking after our children, not only by ensuring we have excellent local schools, but by also making sure we have bus services to get them there. We recently met with the cabinet member for transport and council officers to highlight the unfairness of this decision and how it discriminates against certain children in Peasedown St John based on where they live. Despite spending over an hour with the cabinet member we were unable to change his mind, and the cuts are going ahead. What we have now done therefore is write to First Bus to ask them to provide an extra, earlier service for those travelling from Peasedown St John to Radstock – this would ensure that children attending Writhlington School would be able to get there in time for the start of the school day. We do hope that First will look on this request favourably for our Peasedown children. Cllr Sarah Bevan and Cllr Karen Walker Independents, Peasedown St John