Council bus drivers abused for taking children of key workers to Northamptonshire schools

Shocked Northamptonshire Highways staff are being targeted by abuse for continuing to work during the coronavirus lockdown.

Transport workers and road engineers are seen as key workers by the Government.

Yet that has not stopped them being on the receiving end of sickening flak across the county.

Communications manager Rebecca Miller said: "We have had incidents of people shouting at our bus drivers and our workers out on the highways.

"We understand people are questioning whey we are out there and they are still seeing our hi-viz jackets. But there are still services that need to be provided and we're doing everything we can to keep essential services going while reducing the risk and keeping our staff safe.

"We are continuing to run transport to and from schools for key worker families and for health and social care. Home-school transport is essential at the best of times and we don't want childcare to be an added stress.

"The buses may not be as full as normal and demand is being monitored and reviewed all the time. But they do need to be out there.

"And we still have to respond to reports on the Street Doctor services that people are still putting through.

"Emergency services and key workers still need to use the road network so we need to maintain it."

Many have been outraged by pictures of workers on building sites failing to stay two metres apart health officials say is needed to slow the spread of the deadly Covid-19 bug.

But Northamptonshire Highways and service partner KierWSP are ensuring their workers stick to the rules.

Work is also continuing on the A43 upgrade between Northampton and Sywell. A stretch of the road will be closed this weekend for surfacing work ahead of the £27million project's completion at the end of the month.

Miss Miller added: "We're constantly reviewing everything and things are changing almost on an hourly basis. But at the moment it's very much business as usual while following all the guidance, maintaining distancing, providing additional welfare and ensuring crews are complaint."

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