Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Parents with children starting secondary school in September who think they may be entitled to free transport are being urged to apply as a matter of urgency. The number of applications received is lower than expected, particularly for those going to school outside of Carmarthenshire. Anyone who has changed their address or school, or will be changing address before the start of the new school year, must update their details if they have not already done so. Current year 11 and sixth form pupils must also contact the council’s passenger transport unit to let them know whether or not they want school transport from September. Parents with children living in Carmarthenshire but moving to out of county secondary schools must also apply in the same way. Anyone who leaves it too late could find that the bus nearest their home is already full and they will have to make their own way to a bus further away from their address or perhaps even wait whilst extra capacity is arranged, which can t...

Pupils across Carmarthenshire who want to apply for spare seats on school buses need to act quickly. The deadline for applications is September 25 with places being offered in early October. The cut off date has been brought forward this year due to demand from parents and pupils, so that the spare seats awarded can be used from October onwards. Pupils who qualify for free school transport have priority on the buses, however any spare seats then become available to others who live within the designated walking distance of the school and where there is no public transport available. There is a one off cost of £50 per seat per year. The number of spare seats available is dependent upon schools providing the county council with up to date information on pupils, before the deadline. Executive board member for transport Cllr Hazel Evans said: “We would urge parents who are interested in securing a seat on school transport for their child to act quickly before the deadline. “We would also ...

Emergency plans have been put in place to get pupils to school throughout Carmarthenshire on Monday when First Cymru bus services might suffer strike action. A spokesman for the Council said there was limited time but they were doing what they could to advise all relevant schools and colleges. He said: “We have been working hard since we were made aware of the possibility of a strike and have done what we realistically can to make alternative arrangements where possible. “As a result alternative transport will be available for all but a very small number of children and students. “We have also done what we can in such a short timescale to publicise the situation.”

A limited number of spare seats are being made available on dedicated home to school transport vehicles for pupils who do not currently meet eligibility criteria set out on Carmarthenshire County Council’s home to school transport. There must be seats available on the bus serving an existing route so no additional mileage can be incurred. Letters have been sent to head teachers of schools where there may be eligible children, requesting them to distribute the forms to relevant pupils. No forms are available from the council. County executive board member for transport services Cllr Philip Hughes said: “This is a sensible solution to fill seats where they are available on school buses for pupils who would not otherwise meet the criteria which is set at a national level.”

Fewer school buses could be passing by school children walking to school across Carmarthenshire because of a relaxing of rules. But parents have to act quickly. Applications for the spare seats have to be returned to Carmarthenshire County Council by October 15. The opportunity arises limited number of spare seats are being made available on dedicated home to school transport vehicles for pupils who do not currently meet National Assembly eligibility criteria set out on the authority’s home to school transport. Spare seats will be made available to children of statutory school age, who live within the catchment area of the school, live within the three-mile walking distance but over one mile from the school. There must be seats available on the bus serving an existing route so no additional mileage can be incurred. Spare seats will not be available on routes where there are already school buses available for children to travel upon payment of fare. No extra buses are being laid on. Cou...

Parents are being urged to check they have applied for transport for their children moving up to secondary school in September. Children are usually eligible for free school transport if they live three or more miles from their designated or their nearest secondary schools. The criteria is set by the Welsh Assembly. County executive board member for transport services Cllr Haydn Jones said: “Every year there are scores of families affected because they ignore or have lost the application letters. “Transport applications forms were included with the package of information issued to parents or year seven children as part of the transfer process for children moving from primary to secondary schools. “This is very much a last chance for parents to make sure the school travel arrangements are in order. Our school transport teams have to ensure the necessary numbers of school transport vehicles are contracted and available to run the services.” “In the last school year a total number of 128 ...