THE END of term was not a merry one for staff and students at the town’s St Augustine’s Catholic High School last week when youngsters were left stranded in the town centre in the latest Diamond Bus fiasco.
Pupils were stranded on Wednesday (December 16) in a situation that was only resolved by teaching staff collecting the students and transporting them to school in St Augustine’s minibuses.
The news comes after last week’s report that staff from both St Augustine’s and Tudor Grange are turning up the heat on Diamond bosses following a meeting last month on the service they are offering pupils.
Buses transporting children to and from St Augustine’s Catholic High School and Tudor Grange Academy have been unreliable since September – when the 143 service to St Augustine’s was withdrawn without notification.
The day before the initial meeting, which took place on November 19, a bus due to take Tudor Grange students home burst into flames outside the Woodrow Drive site.
Following that initial discussion, a further meeting was held with Diamond representatives last Thursday (December 11) with teaching staff demanding the deadline that Diamond has to improve its services moves forward.
A letter was been sent to County Councillor John Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, to request such time frames are brought in line with the beginning of the spring term.
A newsletter to St Augustine’s parents on Friday (December 18) stated there is currently no improvement to the service provision by Diamond Bus service.
Parents are advised in the newsletter to inform Coun Smith of any concerns, comments or issues they have with Diamond Buses school service via email at [email protected] so he can compile a complete information dossier on the matter.”
