School bus rules divide rural family

Jan 14 2008 by Neil McKay, The Journal

A MOTHER is having to drive in a bizarre convoy behind her children’s school bus after two of them were allowed free transport and the other two weren’t.

Education bosses in County Durham have changed the operator who ferries youngsters from the remote hamlet of Townfield, near Blanchland, Northumberland, reducing the number of places on the bus.

That has left Jan and Martin Parry’s children Virginia, 15, and Bryoni, 13, with concessionary places on the bus, but Harriet, 12, and Joshua, 11, losing out on free school transport.

Mrs Parry described the transport muddle as red tape gone mad.

She said: “During previous years, all four of our children were transported to schools in Corbridge and Hexham.

“When Durham County Council put the service out to tender it was won by an operator with a smaller vehicle, and there is no room for Harriet and Joshua.

“If we chose to take them out of Corbridge Middle School and away from their friends, then they would be entitled to free transport to the nearest school in County Durham, which would be in Consett.

“The county council would have to put on a taxi for them at a cost of hundreds of pounds to the taxpayer.”

The Parrys, who are appealing against the decision, are supported by their local councillor John Shuttleworth, who said: “I believe that the county council has been inflexible in failing to take into account the exceptional circumstances of children like the Parry youngsters who live in isolated rural communities.”

But Sheila Gibbon for Durham County Council, said: “The home to school transport policy provides for free transport to the nearest appropriate school if it is beyond the two miles distance limit.

“Mrs Parry’s children do not attend their nearest schools and therefore are not entitled to free transport.”