Coventry mum's anger at 'unacceptable' bus service

[dutchman]

Daughter, 11, gets home two hours after school finishes



A Coventry mum has spoken of her anger and worry after she claims an "unacceptable" bus route servicing her daughter's school means some children are getting home over two hours after school finishes.

It is claimed buses either don't show up or drive straight past pupils outside Westwood Academy, on Mitchell Avenue, meaning an 11-year-old girl is making her way home in the dark.

The girl's family all work full-time meaning they cannot do the school run every day, and her mother is demanding a long-term solution be sought by transport bosses.

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The route in question is the number 14 bus, which goes all over a section of the city, encompassing the University of Warwick, Allesley, Cannon Park, Tile Hill, Coundon and the city centre - it also services Blue Coat Secondary School.

The concerned mother told CoventryLive: "We live in Allesley Park and there are lots of families in the same situation. My daughter leaves the house at 7.30am, they are rushing and stressing before they even get to school.

“Then after school, the bus stop is right outside the gates, and most days it’s either late, or it drives straight past them.

“When that happens she gets in two hours and 20 minutes after school finishes. It’s dark, she’s only 11 - one of the youngest in her year, this is unacceptable.

"It happened like that just this Monday. One of my daughter's friends left school and went to the bus stop before the usual school one, he said it wasn't full, and it drove straight past my daughter waiting at the stop outside the school.

"Best case scenario they are home an hour after school finishes, but if the bus doesn’t come or it goes past them, it is much, much longer. And that’s before you take into consideration any after school activities.

"Something has to be done because this is disgusting. I’m so angry."

The mum, who asked to remain anonymous, acknowledges the number 14 bus is a big route which services lots of parts of the city, and she is aware of staffing issues the bus company is having.

She said: "The bus goes all over, serves Blue Coat school, goes all round Coundon, so it’s not a small service, I get that, and I understand they have drivers off with Covid, but surely you prioritise the routes that services young children so they aren’t standing or walking alone in the dark?

"These kids are 11, they haven’t had this kind of thing before, she’s having to walk home in the dark, then get in and do loads of homework - there almost isn’t enough hours in the day.

"We’ve been out looking for them, we’ve been that worried. Their phones are dying because they are out of the house for so long. She is getting scared and they get home freezing cold.

"We all work full-time and I’m not able to pick her up every day. This needs sorting."