A schoolgirl and her family have thanked the Herald after a council performed a U-turn in a row over where the school bus should stop. Earlier this month, the Herald told how Megan Emery, aged 14, of Hesket-new-Market, could not catch the bus from the village — despite it passing her home.
Instead, Cumberland Council had expected her parents to ferry her to Caldbeck every morning and back again at home time to the official stop for the council-contracted service. But following our coverage of the issue, Cumberland Council has now had a change of heart.
Megan, a pupil at Caldew School who is eligible for transport, has now been given a pass and the bus stops in the village to allow Megan on and off, with the stop just feet away from where she lives. Thrilled dad Steve praised the Herald for highlighting the issue.
Mr Emery said: “I sent the article to the council and posted it on a few local Facebook sites. Everyone has said it was ridiculous and the council has finally come to its senses. I feel really pleased, Megan is thrilled and this will make our lives so much easier. We have the confidence now knowing that if we are late back, she can get home OK.”
Cumberland Council had originally offered Megan use of a taxi to school and said that because the family had decided not to accept the offer, it could not introduce a new stopping place for the bus.
Steve believes simply allowing the bus to stop in the village would save the council around £4,000 a year in what it would have spent on taxi fares.
