A bus driver has been sent for retraining following a complaint from a school pupil passenger. Councillor Tony Kear informed Monmouthshire County Council about the incident during a council meeting on Thursday, September 19. The complaint arose from the number 60 Newport Bus service, which transports pupils from Usk to Monmouth Comprehensive School, being described as “overcrowded”. Cllr Kear raised concerns about pupils having to stand on the bus and inquired about steps being taken to ensure safe driving standards.
The Usk councillor highlighted the disparity where dedicated school buses must have seatbelts, while pupils are allowed to stand on public service buses, which he labelled as “legally overcrowded.” In response, Cllr Martyn Groucutt, the Labour cabinet member responsible, stated that the council’s passenger unit conducts unannounced visits to buses used for school transport to monitor safety standards. He acknowledged the incident reported by Cllr Kear and mentioned the driver had been sent for retraining, expressing hope that such occurrences would not repeat.
Regarding Cllr Kear’s assertion of the bus being “overcrowded,” Cllr Groucutt stated he had not received any complaints about overcrowding. He explained that the number 60 bus to Monmouth has a capacity of 61 to 70 passengers, seating between 29 and 33. The council had issued bus passes to 29 pupils, and on average, there are around 20 fare-paying passengers, resulting in approximately 49 passengers on the bus.
A spokesperson for Newport Bus declined to comment on individual employees. Cllr Groucutt emphasised the importance of maintaining safe conditions for school transport and echoed concerns about having children on an overcrowded bus. The incident serves as a reminder of the significance of adhering to safety protocols and ensuring the welfare of passengers, particularly school children utilizing public transportation services.