School bus service changes voted down

CARMARTHENSHIRE councillors have narrowly voted against a motion brought by Labour calling for improved bus services for pupils attending the county's schools.

- IAN LEWIS

Planned changes to school bus services in Carmarthenshire were narrowly rejected.

The motion was tabled at a meeting of full council at county hall, calling on the council to take action to provide school transport for all pupils living up to two miles from their primary school and three miles from their secondary school, who are not currently eligible for free travel.

It was presented by Llanelli Labour councillor Martyn Palfreman and backed by his fellow Hengoed ward councillor Edward Skinner.

Addressing the council chamber, Cllr Palfreman stressed that parents were prepared to pay for such transport but were denied a service in some parts of the county. As a result, he claimed, some secondary pupils are required to walk up to almost three miles to school, negotiating dangerous roads or being forced to travel along isolated footpaths.

Despite support from Labour and independent councillors, the motion was not voted through. The ruling Plaid party on the council argued that the issue of the Welsh Government's Learner Travel (Wales) Measure is currently being reviewed nationally and any vote now would be premature, pending the outcome of talks at the Senedd.

Politicians at the Senedd are expected to discuss school transport rules after hearing that children as young as 11 are expected to walk up to two and a half hours a day for their education in some parts of Wales.