‘STRANDED IN THE COLD AND DARK’
Autistic Caleb ‘in tears’ waiting for bus
A Six-year-old autistic boy has been left in floods of tears – waiting in the ‘dark and cold’ for a bus.
Louise Kemper catches the 6/6A service between Normacot and Weston Coyney to get son Caleb to and from school.
But on November 18, Louise and Caleb – as well as her friend and their child – waited at a Weston Road stop for their 3.40pm bus.
However, it did not get them home until 5.45pm - the journey should take 20 minutes.
Louise, aged 40, from Normacot, said: “It was an hour-and-a-half we had to wait for the bus with two autistic kids in the dark and cold. I was frustrated and really angry.
“When their routines get upset, they do too so we had two kids who were crying and hating the world. They wanted to go home, they were cold, hungry and needed the toilet. We were literally stranded. They need to make it better.
“The bus used to be every 20 minutes and it would be amazing if they went back to that, and if they would run on time and when they are supposed to run. They should keep to their timetables.”
First Potteries has blamed the delay on a road closure caused by a crash. Temporary traffic lights on Lichfield Street, Sandon Road, Upper Belgrave Road and Meir Road are also affecting reliability.
A First spokesman said: “We apologise for any inconvenience to customers on our 6/6A service while the roadworks are in operation.
“I’m sure people can appreciate there is inevitably going to be some additional congestion in those areas, which determines how fast traffic can flow.
“We are in regular contact with Stoke-on-trent City Council to try to minimise any disruption to bus services across our network when roadworks need to take place.”