Mums' anger at fare rises (From Stroud News and Journal)

Mums' anger at fare rises

ANGRY mums have hit out a school bus company for putting up fares by 30 per cent despite running what they say is an inadequate service.

They complain the bus is often late, has a leaky roof which leaves seats wet when it rains is always so crowded youngsters have to sit three to every two seats.

Furious mums contacted the SNJ after Applegate Coaches, which runs a daily connection from the Stonehouse area to Rednock School in Dursley put fares up from £1 to £1.30 last week with only a few days' warning.

Mrs Julie Stevens, from Arrowsmith Drive, Stonehouse, whose 12-year-old daughter takes the double-decker bus, said: "I'm really quite cross. To think they can suddenly put fares up from £1 to £1.30 seems very unfair.

"The bus has no seatbelts and it's always full so the kids have to share seats with each other.

"For £1.30 you should get a decent bus and a decent seat."

Peggyanne Waite, from King's Stanley, has two year eight daughters taking the bus. She said: "The fare increase is far too much.

"The children are squashed onto the bus and sometimes they are left waiting for half an hour in the morning.

"My daughter says the seats are often wet because the roof and windows leak, which I think is awful.

"And it's appalling that they have to share seats, especially if they don't know each other."

According to the Confederation of Public Transport, three children under the age of 14 count as two passengers on a public bus, so it is legal to seat them together.

Richard Gillett, Applegate's finance manager, said the Berkeley based firm has born steadily increasing operating costs, including the frequent repair of seats deliberately damaged by schoolchildren.

"Applegate coaches is a 35 year established family run business which endeavours to give a value for money service to all its customers," he said.

"The new fare of £1.30 is the first increase on this 20 mile school run since 1998. "A week's notice was given about the rise and posters were put up on the bus for passenger information."

The bus is licensed to carry up to 78 passengers, he said. H added that the leaky roof had not previously been brought to the company's attention. "We will be looking into it," said Mr Gillett.

"All our vehicles have passed stringent department of transport tests. "We are sorry if passengers are disappointed and we are sympathetic to parents' complaints.

"If anyone has a specific concern it would be better addressed to Mr Applegate and his colleagues."