Parents lobby minister (From Barry And District News)

Parents lobby minister

THE PARENTS of Stuart Cunningham-Jones, the young boy killed in a tragic bus crash in December 2002, met with the transport minister this week.

David and Joanne Cunningham-Jones have crusaded tirelessly for safer measures on school buses since their 12-year old son died.

Stuart was on his way home to Ystrad Owen from Cowbridge Comprehensive with his classmates when the double-decker bus he was travelling on left the road and ploughed into a tree.

He was the only fatality, but many of his fellow pupils sustained injuries in the accident.

And as the new School Transport Bill is just at the start of the consultation process, his mum and dad, who are founders of Stuart's Campaign, wanted to make sure their voices were heard.

Mr Cunningham-Jones said: "We saw this as an opportunity to really try and influence this change in the law.

"The School Transport Bill is the first legislation of this kind to be introduced in government in the last 50 years.

"We wanted this chance to speak with transport minister David Jamieson about our concerns.

"With the government trying to force more people to use public transport over their own cars, there have to be certain factors taken into consideration, especially in relation to school transport.

"It's more than just making sure there is one child per seat and sufficient adult supervision, and it's important that improvements are made to prevent such devastating accidents from happening in the future."

The couple travelled to the House of Commons on Tuesday to discuss the issue, accompanied by Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith.

Mr Smith said: "The meeting between Mr and Mrs Cunningham-Jones and transport minister David Jamieson was very positive.

"Their representations were taken on board.

"At this stage, the legislation is in the middle of the consultation process, and the family felt it was the best time to approach the government on this important issue."