KEETCH MEETS COUNCIL CHIEFS AND PARENTS OVER ONGOING SCHOOL TRANSPORT DISPUTE

3.24.25pm GMT Mon 24th Jan 2005

Hereford Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch brokered a meeting last Friday between Herefordshire Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Don Rule, George Salmon, Head of Policy and Resources at the Education Department, and parents whose children are affected by the recent changes to school transport provision between Ross and Hereford.

"Although the Council had said they were looking at resolving the situation, the best that they seemed to be able to offer was places on a bus from How Caple into Hereford", said Mr Keetch. "That hardly seems satisfactory.

"I was glad that Councillor Rule and Mr Salmon agreed to meet the parents but it does not seem to have resolved anything. It has emerged that the current row may result in the Council scrapping places for all non denominational travel by 2006, which will affect countless more children who travel to schools such as Bishop's and St Mary's.

"All the Council representatives did was blame Central Government for not giving them more funds.

"I discussed the situation again last week in Westminster with the School Standards Minister Steven Twigg and he has asked me to keep him informed about progress - it seems I have little to tell him!"