SOLIHULL MP FIGHTS TO SAVE LIGHT HALL SCHOOL BUS ROUTE

1.56.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th Jul 2007

Solihull MP, Lorely Burt has taken up the fight to save a school bus service for pupils of Light Hall School being axed.

Travel West Midlands have written to parents saying that they will withdraw the 863 bus service because of bad behaviour by pupils, but Lorely Burt has written to TWM Director, Neil Barker asking him to continue running the service to ensure that pupils can travel to school safely.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"I have taken up the matter on behalf of parents who have contacted me because I am concerned that pupils should continue to travel in the quickest, safest way to school using public transport.

"There is some dispute over blame for the incident which appears to have prompted the decision, and I know that both staff at the school and the police liaise closely to tackle any reported misbehaviour by a minority of pupils on the way to school.

"I would hate to think that this was the start of more widespread reduction in school bus services as a result of pressures on budgets and subsidies.

"I have asked Travel West Midlands to reconsider because many children will face unnecessarily long walks or parents will be forced into their cars at the busiest time of the day to drive their children to school - the exact reverse of what public transport is supposed to achieve."