P-05-748 School Buses for School Children – Correspondence from the Petitioner to the Committee, 22.12.17

Dear Sir/ Madam

In reply to your email below.

I have read the attached letter and feel it's a case of book passing, When speaking with local authorities they claim it's not their issue. I feel I'm told one thing and then another and it's really hard and frustrating to get clear facts of who deals with what.

My petition was never about getting free school transport but safe school transport, along the way I've been made aware of the fact that commercial bus drivers do not by law have to under go DSB (CRB) checks this i feel is shocking as there is always a chance that a child or vunrable person could be that last passenger on that bus, meaning the driver is alone with them, you only have to think about the Jamie Lavis case where a bus driver befriended eight year old Jamie and let him hand out bus tickets before sexually abusing and then murdering him, and yet we are expected to be ok with letting our children travel to and from school on commercial services with unchecked drivers!!

I understand there are budgets and council have to deliver value for money but as I've stated above this was never about a free for all, this is about safe transport for school children.

1. Dedicated school buses

2. Every child should have a seat.

3. Every child should have a seat belt.

4. All drivers should have relevant DSB checks.

5. All buses should be fit for purpose.

I never want another parent to go through my nightmare.

Kind regards

Lynne Chick #Schoolbusesforschoolchildren