Death leads to better safety (From Barry And District News)

Death leads to better safety

A SCHOOLBOY'S tragic death could lead to sweeping changes to the transport system across Wales.

Plaid Cymru councillor Leanne Wood has applauded the success of Stuart's Campaign, launched after the 12-year-old died in a bus crash. Cllr Wood has called for the safety measures the campaign prompted to be used across Wales.

These improvements, introduced throughout the Vale on Monday, include CCTV on certain routes, one child per seat, adult supervision and a low level of tolerance to anti-social behaviour.

The measures come as a direct result of the inquest into the death of Stuart Cunningham-Jones, who died when a double-decker bus carrying Cowbridge Comprehensive pupils crashed two years ago.

But Cllr Wood said: "Children's safety must be our first priority. No expense should be spared to ensure that school buses are safe.

"However, councils across the country will not be able to implement the recommendations of the coroner's enquiry without funding.

I have written to the Welsh Assembly asking it to find funding so safety provisions can be available to every school in the country.

"I am sure that all councils want to satisfy parents' legitimate demands for extra safety measures, but they are being hamstrung by lack of finance."

The measures do not apply to hybrid services - those used by schoolchildren and the public.

Stuart's father David said: "These actions have gone only so far. We have made a commitment in Stuart's name to ensure all pupils can get to and from school safely.

"We are still calling for stricter measures on the hybrid service, or to abandon them altogether and have every child travel to school on designated school transport.

It will be costly, but what price do you put on a child's life?"