Concerns raised over school bus service

Thursday, 20 January 2022 21:01

By Gill Garston

Children from Glossop who go to school in Chapel-en-le-Frith are only guaranteed a bus service until the summer.

High Peak Buses stopped the 61a service earlier this month as it is no longer financially viable.

But it left Glossop-based students who were allocated a place at Chapel High School with no way of getting there.

Parents were sent an email from the Long Lane school, telling them that a new coach service has been arranged instead of the 61a.

It reads: "School have secured a private hire service with Bentleys Coaches who will operate the route.

“As this is a private hire service, payment for tickets will need to be made to the school via parent pay or paypoint, these are available to purchase now. The weekly ticket price will remain the same at £18.30, unfortunately school will not be able to issue daily tickets nor will the drivers will not be able to accept cash on the bus. If you would like to purchase a termly ticket please contact the school office."

This private hire coach will operate until the end of the summer term.

Angry parents have contacted Derbyshire County Council asking for them to provide a replacement.

But the county council says it is not responsible for providing a service to get the children to and from school.

Alan Shaw, who lives on Shirebrook in Glossop, has two children who attend Chapel High School.

He’s written to county councillor Alex Dale asking for help to find a solution. For both of his children, Alan selected Glossopdale School and St Philip Howard Catholic Voluntary Academy. But both were allocated places at Chapel High School.

Alan said: "This has been fine as long as the 61a bus has been running. The private hire service currently being used by pupils will end in the summer and once again our children are without school transport.

"As we have a daughter in year 9 who will shortly be selecting options and commencing GCSE studies, now is the time for her to move school if that has to be the decision. I note that we therefore contacted both Glossopdale and Philip Howard secondary schools.

"Both schools confirmed that they are ‘full’, with Glossopdale advising that they are also ‘oversubscribed’. In particular Glossopdale School has denied our daughter the opportunity for a visit prior to any request being made for a change of school stating Covid-19 restrictions.”

Cllr Dale has told Alan that parents are responsible for their child’s school travel.

He said: “Up until April 2012, the Council did allocate discretionary funding of approximately £1m per annum to provide a network of home to school transport services in Derbyshire for pupils who were not entitled to transport assistance. Although pupils paid a fare to travel, the difference between the cost of the contracts and the income received continued to grow, and funding was withdrawn in 2012 as part of a package of measures to reduce the public transport budget. I regret the Council is not in a position to reinstate this type of funding and cannot make exceptions in this case.

“I understand there are no other public transport options available from Glossop at school times, and if the school is not able to provide a replacement service, parents can consider arranging a private service. There are examples of where this has worked well, but given the cost of hiring a vehicle, it often relies on large numbers travelling so costs for families are not prohibitive.”

But Alan says: "The school place allocation process is managed by the county council. Whilst we as parents do not want to intentionally disrupt the education of our children we may be forced to formally seek a change of school if the public transport option is not reinstated and Chapel-en-le-Frith High School do not continue the current contract with Bentleys Coaches.”