School bus safety fears

They are horrified that pupils from the Blackboys, Framfield, Halland and Easons Green area are standing on the lower deck of a double-decker bus on the way to Uckfield Community Technology College.

They claim the vehicle, which does not have seat belts, is unsuited to a country route and are calling for two single-decker buses to be introduced with compulsory use of seat belts.

The county council has refuted the parents' claims.

Parents are particularly concerned about a stretch of the B2102 between Framfield and Uckfield which they say is totally unsuited to a 20-year-old double-decker with no seat belts.

They also say the bus tilts and rattles alarmingly on the route's severe cambers.

Karen Muxworthy, the parent of a student, is particularly concerned about children standing on the bus while it is in motion.

She has delivered a DVD she made, showing pupils standing, to East Sussex County Council.

Mrs Muxworthy said: 'I've heard nothing from the council in response to the film. Myself and other worried parents have been attempting to liaise with the county council for four months and have got nowhere.

'All we want is for our children to be safe. The consensus opinion is that cost-cutting is being put before safety. Kids are coming home with white knuckles.'

Paula Fisher of Framfield has two children at the school. She said: 'The problems on this bus date back over several years and the county council has had numerous chances to address them. But they don't seem to be showing any commitment.

'We put our trust in the council to get our kids to school safely. Youngsters complain constantly about the bus and my own daughter is unable to go on the upper deck because she feels travel sick.'

The parents say they have not received a reply from the county council to a request asking to know how many children have a statutory entitlement to use the service.

A county spokesman said: "The council does not accept that the journey is unsuitable for double decker buses. It is common practice for double decker buses to use such routes. It has also been suggested that the route has been driven too fast. We have spoken to the provider, Renown, and stressed that speed should be moderated and the council would prefer that the bus arrives late rather than there being any issue with safety.'

A county council spokesman said: 'Children standing on the lower decks is a matter of their perception of the travelling environment.

'If they are standing downstairs, this needs to be dealt with by identifying the pupils and ensuring parents and teachers address the problem.

'Renown (the bus operator) have agreed to provide CCTV cameras to assist with this. The bus has been given a tilt test during which it is driven around corners at speed with the top deck being filled with ballast to simulate passengers.

'All the necessary safety certification is in place.'

Geoff Evans, a deputy principal at the college, stressed safety of students is of paramount concern. 'We will work with all parties to come to a resolution of this issue. Children have the right to be safe and feel safe.'

Chris Dowling, the county councillor for Framfield and Blackboys, has been working to help parents over many months.

He said: 'I am hoping to persuade the county council to review the route and to take on board the justifiable concerns of parents for the safety of their children. I will be working with both sides to find a way forward.'