Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East
Last week I visited St Brendan’s Sixth Form College with the Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, to hear how young people are being affected by the cuts to Bristol’s buses.
Because St. Brendan’s offers such a wide range of subjects and courses, students come from all over Bristol and the West Country, and rely heavily on buses to get to college. Late or cancelled buses can lead to students missing hours of lesson time. As a result of the cuts, more students are now having to catch two separate buses each way, sometimes with long waits in-between, which could have a serious impact on attendance and participation. No-one should lose out on an education because of bus cancellations, and it’s important that we work towards a solution.
WECA has recently announced its WESTlocal scheme, providing £2 million in funding, as well as training and support, for local community-run bus services. This may be of use to St. Brendan’s and other schools and colleges, who need bus services that serve students rather than commercial interests.
(With thanks to St.Brendan’s for their photograph and general hospitality)