Date: 5th March 2010
58
children from St Mary's Island go to secondary schools in Chatham
and Rochester but Council refuses to lay on school
bus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Labour councillor for River Ward, Bill Esterson presented a
petition to Medway Council at last night’s council meeting calling
for a dedicated school bus service from St Mary’s Island to
secondary schools in Chatham and Rochester.
The petition was organised by parents on St Mary’s Island and
has been signed by 246 parents and children. The council has so far
turned down requests to provide the bus service but parents are
hopeful that the petition and the fact that 58 children on the
island go to school in Rochester and Chatham will lead to a change
of heart.
Cllr Bill Esterson said, “It is clear to me that children on St
Mary’s Island need a school bus service to Chatham and Rochester
secondary schools. Children either rely on their parents to drive
them to school, clogging up the roads and adding to the pollution
in Medway or they face a long journey which means changing bus in
the Pentagon. I share the concerns of parents about the long travel
time and also the safety of children travelling to school
especially while waiting in the Pentagon. I hope that the Cabinet
will consider this request and maybe use the members' priority fund
to put on a service which will make a big difference to people on
St Mary’s Island. Previous requests for the bus were turned down
and I hope that penny pinching will not be used as a reason to say
no again. I will support this excellent plan and applaud the hard
work of parents and children in collecting so many signatures so
quickly.”
Tricia Matthewman was one of many parents and children who
collected signatures for the petition. Mrs Matthewman said, “Our
children really need a bus service to school. It just does not make
sense for them to have to change at the Pentagon. There have been
attacks on some children and I am really concerned that this could
happen to my child. There are 58 children on St Mary’s Island who
go to school in Chatham or Rochester . Surely the council can
afford a bus for so many children.”
Another parent who collected the petition was Allan Sneller. Mr
Sneller said, “It should not be necessary for 11 year-old children
to spend up to 3 hours of their day commuting to school and back
when this time would be better spent on homework. When the
SEEDA planners designed St.Mary’s Island as a “sustainable
community” they forgot to account for our children safely getting
to and from their secondary schools.”
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