Prents fight for safer transport (From Barry And District News)

Prents fight for safer transport

CRUSADING Vale parents have taken up the gauntlet to fight for safer school transport for children.

The founders of Stuart's Campaign, which was set up after the tragic death of Stuart Cunningham-Jones in a Cowbridge bus crash, are stepping up their efforts.

They are calling on other parents to join the cause and have invited residents to their annual general meeting on Tuesday at 8pm at Ystradowen Village Hall.

Most of the group have children who were on the school bus when it crashed on December 3, 2002 killing 12-year-old Stuart.

Publicity Officer for Stuart's Campaign, Susan Zaslona of Ash Grove, Ystradowen said: "We want to make sure our children are safe when being taken to school.

"MP John Smith put the question of child safety on school transport to the Houses of Commons for us and this has been taken up by transport minister, Alistair Darling.

She added: "We have also talked to Bridgend Council about safety issues and they have installed CCTV on their buses.

"Our main aim is to get factory-fitted seat-belts on school buses and one child per seat. We want to see some supervision on buses as drivers can not see everything."

The mother-of-five had already taken her children off the school bus, three years before Stuart's death because she feared for their safety.

Working with the group are Belt Up School Kids (BUSK). Founder , Pat Harris said "BUSK will work with Ystradowen parents to ensure that they are properly represented both legally and in national discussions.

"We have long held the view that overcrowding buses with more children than the seating capacity is not safe and have argued the case with government ministers.

"Regulations are in place to control the transportation of livestock. There are no such regulations in place for children.

"It could be said that cattle are more important than keeping children safe."

For more information log on to www.stuartscampaign.com