| Heather Watson, who lives in Whigstreet, near Forfar, claims her children, who are in P1 and P3, can not access the seatbelts on the bus because the clasp is jammed between the seats.
She had been boarding the school bus in the morning to pull the seatbelt clasp out from between the seats for her children to fasten.
But she was then told by a new driver on the route that parents were not allowed to board the bus.
She stopped getting on until three weeks ago when she claims the bus drove away after picking up her children before they were even sitting down.
“The next morning I told him that I would be getting on the bus in the future to make sure they were seated,” she said.
“I then got a letter from Angus Council requesting that I no longer got on the bus, because they would have a problem if a lot of parents started to get on the bus.
“I tried to speak to the person who organises school transport, but I was never phoned back.
“Yesterday, I got a letter from the driver on behalf of Fishers Tours, who operate the bus, saying that if I continued to get on the bus, then they would no longer take my children to school.
“I am just concerned about the safety of my children and I am very disappointed in how little is being done to ensure that children are safe on school buses.”
The letter handed to Mrs Watson by the driver said, “You were sent a letter from Angus Council on May 6 asking that your children board the bus by themselves in the morning, as they do in the afternoon.
“I have been advised by the driver that this is not happening and you are still boarding the bus with them.
“The purpose of this letter is to tell you that if you board the bus tomorrow, then it will be the last time the bus stops for your children and it will be your responsibility to get them to school yourself.”
But when the Tele contacted Angus Council about the decision, they said they would allow Mrs Watson to continue to board the bus.
A spokesperson said, “The safety of children using the school transport service is paramount.
“We have spoken with Mrs Watson to reassure her she can continue to board the bus to fasten her children’s seatbelts until they are able to do so for themselves.
“We have notified the bus operator of this decision and are in the process of arranging a further meeting with them to clarify their operation of the contract.”
Fishers Tours refused to comment. |
