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Posted: Mon 21st Oct 2024
Concerns over the safety of schoolchildren in Flintshire have been raised in the Welsh Parliament by North Wales MS Mark Isherwood, who criticised local authorities for their strict interpretation of the Welsh Government’s Learner Travel (Wales) Measure.
The rule restricts free home-to-school transport to learners who live three miles or more from their nearest suitable school, leaving those within this distance to find alternative transport options.
Speaking during a session in the Senedd last week, Mr Isherwood highlighted the vulnerability of children affected by this policy, particularly in rural areas where public transport is unreliable and safe walking routes are unavailable.
He emphasised the arbitrary nature of the three-mile rule and the practical difficulties it creates for families in places like Sychdyn whose children attend Alun School in Mold.
“Parents frequently contact me about their children being left in a vulnerable position by local authorities’ strict application of the Learner Travel Measure. Children are being abandoned at bus stops due to unreliable public transport, and there are no safe walking routes available,” Mr Isherwood said.
He pointed to the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure, which allows local authorities to provide transport on a discretionary basis, and noted that the law defines an available route only if it is safe for a child to walk alone or with an escort when required.
Mr Isherwood urged the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Ken Skates, to address the issue, asking how the government plans to monitor local authorities’ implementation of the measure and ensure they are using discretionary powers to help vulnerable children.
In response, Mr Skates acknowledged the challenges facing learners across Wales, referring to the forthcoming Bus Bill as part of the solution.
“Being able to control networks, routes, and timetables will make a significant difference to the provision of transport for learners,” Mr Skates said.
While he welcomed this development, Mr Isherwood stressed that more immediate action is needed, particularly as daylight hours shorten and the safety of children becomes more precarious.
“Daylight hours are shortening, and it is simply not safe for children to be left stranded at bus stops,” Isherwood said after the meeting. “The Bus Bill may provide long-term improvements, but urgent attention is needed now to prevent children from being put at risk.”
The issue has reignited concerns over the fairness and practicality of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure, with parents and community members calling for a more flexible approach to school transport, particularly in rural areas where transport options are limited.
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