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US-style bus plan for five schools
PLANS to introduce American-style yellow buses for county youngsters will get under way in September after five schools were chosen for a pilot scheme.
The county council is in talks with the schools with a view to having the project up and running from the start of the next academic year.
All the vehicles will be equipped with CCTV cameras to tackle the problem of bullying and bad behaviour, as well as seatbelts for every pupil.
Northamptonshire County Council transport spokesman Bob Seery, who has been championing the yellow bus project, said the scheme would also provide peace of mind for parents, with a reliable timetable telling them where and when their child will be dropped off.
He said it would also ease congestion and reduce the number of cars outside schools, as well cutting down on fuel emissions and pollution.
Cllr Seery, who represents Thrapston at County Hall, said: "The provision of a countywide school transport system would regulate the way children are taken to school.
"Buses with seatbelts and CCTV cameras to reduce bullying would improve the safety of the children.
"For every bus there will be around 20 fewer cars outside the school, reducing the congestion that occurs when parents are delivering children by car, parking near zebra crossings and affecting visibility.
"This scheme would also make a fundamental contribution towards traffic congestion in the county, as everyone knows that it is far easier to get to work when the schools are on holiday."
He said: "Reducing the number of cars taking children to school should have a similar effect."
At present just six per cent of pupils in Northamptonshire travel to school by bus, compared with 50 per cent in America.
Parent Des Watson, an engineer living in Wellingborough, said: "I think the CCTV would work to control the behaviour of pupils on the bus but could be considered a bit extreme.
"I'm not sure how much school buses would improve the traffic in the county, as there are already school buses, but if they were made available to every child who had to travel to school it could make a difference.
"I would consider putting my son, who currently goes to pre-school, on a yellow bus when he starts school."
Cllr Seery said a pilot scheme which took place at Northampton High School last year was a success and that he is now in negotiations with at least five other schools across the county.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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