Parents angry after buses fail to pick up pupils

Parents have hit out at transport bosses after claiming school buses have frequently failed to pick up pupils – forcing them to walk miles and making them late.

Parents of pupils living in Broadheath in Greater Manchester say they have protested to their local MP Connor Rand and ward councillor Ulrich Savary for four months about two particular services.

One mother said she was surprised to learn her son was able to take pictures of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium one morning after the bus "inexplicably" took a different route.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) director of bus Stephen Rhodes said: "We are committed to ensuring that Bee Network services are reliable."

The Bee Network was launched in the south of Greater Manchester in January - meaning the whole region now has a publicly-run bus system.

The pupils who use the 746 and 759 services mostly attend one of three schools - Altrincham Grammar Schools for Boys and Girls and the all-girls Loreto Grammar School.

On Tuesday the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) watched as the 746 bus, on its way to Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, drove straight past at least 15 children waiting at the bus stop on Sinderland Road, outside Broadheath Primary School.

A couple of minutes later, the 759 service on its way to Loreto stopped and all the pupils got on board.

Mahzar Kazmi whose 13-year-old son who attends the boys' grammar said: "The buses are often full to capacity and leave children at the bus stop. "

"The children are then left with no choice but to contact their parents or walk to school... most of the parents are unable to pick them up because they have work commitments."

Naeem Peerzada, whose 12-year-old daughter attends the girls' grammar said: "It happens about once a week.

"The school says that even if you are late through no fault of your own, you have to make up the time for being late. The drivers should stop."

A TfGM spokesperson told the LDRS: "We are aware of concerns regarding capacity on the 746 and 759 services, and we are sorry for any inconvenience these issues are causing pupils and their families.

"TfGM and bus operators are currently investigating whether changes to the current network can be made that will provide extra capacity for students boarding at this stop."

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys deputy head James Whiting said: "To date, we are not aware of any student who has missed a bus home due to being late in the morning for reasons beyond their control."

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls has been contacted for comment.

Jane Beever, head of Loreto Grammar School, added: "We are always aware of what's going on the buses because it can prove a challenge sometimes."

Earlier this month Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham admitted the 203 service between Stockport, Reddish, Debdale Park and Piccadilly Gardens had "not been good enough" after mums complained about cancelled and delayed buses making their children late for school.

But the mayor added: "Overall, bus services in the south of Greater Manchester are already as good as - if not better - than the ones they replaced."

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