Council chief should 'resign' (From Barry And District News)

Council chief should 'resign'

SCHOOLBUS safety campaigners have demanded the resignation of a Vale of Glamorgan Council director over renewed concerns.

Action group Belt Up School Kids (BUSK) say tenders put out by the Vale of Glamorgan council ignore safety recommendations made by an inquest jury following the death of Stuart Cunningham-Jones.

A spokesman said Rob Quick, Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration, should resign unless the tenders are withdrawn.

An inquest into the death of Stuart Cunningham-Jones heard that a group of boys repeatedly distracted the bus driver.

The inquest recommended that all buses carrying pupils should have a supervisor on board.

BUSK say the Vale of Glamorgan school bus contracts, which have now been put out to tender, do not take the recommendations of the inquest into account.

Pat Harris, founder of BUSK, said: "BUSK as an organisation is highly specialised in the field of safety on school transport. We are extremely disappointed that we have not been included in the Vale of Glamorgan Council's consultation group.

"We do not believe that the group, made up of five members of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, has the expertise to move forward on this issue.

"We believe the death of Stuart Cunningham Jones wouldn't have happened if the correct safety procedures had been in place.

"It's outrageous that a child is killed 16 months ago and the council is still prepared to put children at risk in this way."

A spokesperson for the Vale Council said: "The council has invited tenders for a small number of school bus contracts and these fall under its existing terms and conditions.

"Following the inquest into the Ystradowen accident, the coroner asked the council to consider a review of a number of different issues including that of supervision. The council has established a consultative group and its work is likely to include a review of the school bus contract conditions."