Children stranded in Rubery after being kicked off 144 bus en route to school in Bromsgrove - The Bromsgrove Standard

Children stranded in Rubery after being kicked off 144 bus en route to school in Bromsgrove

Bromsgrove Editorial 6th Feb, 2016 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

THREE Rubery children were left tearful after being stranded on Thursday morning (January 28) because the bus driver on their usual service to school told them they could not board with the passes they had.

The 13- and 14-year-olds were left in the cold when they tried to travel from New Road in Rubery to North Bromsgrove High School at 8am.

When they got on the 144, the driver told them to get off and walk up to another stop which came under what she incorrectly thought was the right zone for their passes.

Mum of one the youngsters Lisa Bayliss, said she was anxious when she got the call to say they were stuck and could not get to school.




“The bus runs about every 45 minutes but they were too scared to try to catch the next one even though they had been using their bus passes since September from the same stop.

“They were so embarrassed. Everyone was staring at them, wondering what was going on.”


The parents paid nearly £500 for each of the passes and purchased them in person to be sure they bought the correct ones.

And after the incident, Lisa said she spent hours trying get a clear answer from First Buses about whether it was the right pass.

She added: “Even if it wasn’t the right one, the driver should have had the common sense to allow them on and just tell them to check it.

“In the end we were told we did have the correct passes and the driver was new to the route and was unclear of the zones.”

She added, regardless of that, the children should not have been left on their own.

“God only knows what could have happened.”

The other parent Yvonne Draper had to collect the children and drive them to school 40 minutes late.

She said: “You give your child a mobile in case of emergencies but the last thing you expect is to get a call from your child, absolutely hysterical, that they have been kicked off the bus and shouted at by the driver.

“The Worcestershire Hub had told us we had the right bus and First Bus was adamant it wasn’t but in the end it found we were right.

“At that point I had already rescheduled my day at work so I could pick the kids up as they were texting and calling frantic they wouldn’t be able to get the bus home.

“Their policy is laughable I was absolutely furious they left these vulnerable children.

“Who is more vulnerable than these young girls?”

The Standard contacted First for a comment but no-one returned our call by the time we went to press.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Bromsgrove Standard

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need