Stripped bus routes means Northampton children face three-mile walk to and from school every day

Children from Northampton are facing hour-long walks to school and back in the dark after a vital bus route was cut last month.
Pupils outside the catchment area for Moulton School and Science College are faced with an hour's walk to and from school each day.Pupils outside the catchment area for Moulton School and Science College are faced with an hour's walk to and from school each day.
Pupils outside the catchment area for Moulton School and Science College are faced with an hour's walk to and from school each day.

Parents say they are "frightened" for their children heading into the winter months with no means of transport to reach the Moulton School & Science College.

Although the school runs a bus route for families inside the catchment area, houses further away have to rely on public transport - like the recently shortened No 19 Uno Violet route.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One parent, Sharmaine Ryan, says her daughter Mekeda is faced with leaving the house at 7am to walk an hour to school and has done it every day since term started.

Shaziah Gordon is one 15-year-old who is faced with walking an hour to school and back every day.Shaziah Gordon is one 15-year-old who is faced with walking an hour to school and back every day.
Shaziah Gordon is one 15-year-old who is faced with walking an hour to school and back every day.

Sharmaine said: "It's going to get dark soon. I work shifts and I can't take her. I can't bear to see her to go to school and come home every night in the dark.

"She hates it. She wants to change school. She loves Moulton SSC but she doesn't want to do that walk anymore.

"I just think it's so bad. I know they [Uno] aren't obliged to run the bus but there must be an alternative."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They are amongst the hundreds of other Northampton residents who used to catch the No 19 Uno Violet bus to visit friends, make it to work and go to school - but the route was revised last month.

The Uno No 19 Violet bus was cut short at the beginning of August - but many residents are already feeling an impact on their lives.The Uno No 19 Violet bus was cut short at the beginning of August - but many residents are already feeling an impact on their lives.
The Uno No 19 Violet bus was cut short at the beginning of August - but many residents are already feeling an impact on their lives.

Another parent, Jackie Spence, says her 15-year-old daughter Shaziah is faced with changing schools during the last year of her exams or walking three miles to school every day.

Jackie said: "It's not fair. It would cost £18 a week to use another bus that goes into town first.

"It rained hard this week and Shaziah was late because I just didn't want to send her out in it.

"The bus was her lifeline. I don't know how we're going to get by in the winter."

Related topics: