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Parents’ safety concerns over school bus stop but county council think its fine
13/09/2024
One child’s grandmother remembers a school boy being killed trying to cross the road in the 1970s
Parents have expressed their concerns over the safety of a school bus drop off point.
Children heading home on The Warriner school bus to Twyford are dropped on the Banbury bound A4260 meaning they then have to cross the main road to reach their estate.
Whilst there is a pedestrian crossing a little down the road most children are attempting to cross where the bus drops them, often navigating heavy traffic.
Parents are concerned the situation is an accident waiting to happen.
For the grandmother of one child it brings back haunting memories of when she was on a school bus in the 1970s. Jenny Jordon saw a boy knocked down after he got off the bus as he tried to cross a little further up the Oxford Road.
Jenny said: “It was devastating and it’s still with me now. I remember going into the main road and picking the boy’s papers up and looking at the lorry that had stopped. Then I had to take his sister home and explain to her mum and dad what had happened.”
Sadly the boy died soon afterwards. Knowing children – including her own grandson – are now attempting the same journey across the busy main road is a great concern to Jenny.
She added: “It makes me feel devastated because I know kids are kids and the likelihood of it happening again – it will happen. Risk assessments and health and safety and well-being – where is it all. All for the sake of 5 minutes of the bus driver just going round the back of the estate.”
The home to school transport service is managed by Oxfordshire County Council.
An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson told Banbury FM: “The dropping off arrangements described have been in place for a number of years and have always been convenient for the majority of children on the bus.
“Safety is always a top priority, and if any child needs to reach the other side there is a pelican crossing a short walk away.
“We encourage any parent who would like to discuss these long standing arrangements to contact our school transport team.”
Whilst the County Council does not believe the situation needs addressing the transport provider, Pulhams Coaches, told Banbury FM they do understand the parents’ concerns and have begun work to try to find a way to drop the children on the opposite side of the road. That would need to be agreed by the County Council.
Banbury FM has contacted the ward County Councillor for Adderbury, Arash Fatemian, offering him the chance to comment on the situation.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam