Monmouthshire bus drivers should ‘stop journey if school pupils don’t sit down’

Bus drivers should refuse to move if schoolchildren do not sit down in available seats, a councillor has said.

Drivers of public bus services are only advised to ask pupils to sit as there is no requirement for passengers to do so, unlike dedicated school buses.

Concerns over overcrowded public buses have been raised since schools returned, with a photograph shared online showing pupils standing in a crowded aisle while on a Newport Bus service to Monmouth.

Monmouthshire council chief infrastructure officer Debra Hill-Howells confirmed there had been an increase in passengers on public services since a £1 single fare for all journeys for 16 to 21-year-olds in Wales was introduced in September.

Hill-Howells said this had led to “congested” services, with some pupils choosing to stand rather than using seats on the top deck of buses.

The discussion prompted one scrutiny committee chairman, Alistair Neill, to suggest drivers should refuse to continue the journey if this was the case.

As a result of the busy services, the council – which had been providing some secondary school pupils entitled to free school transport with bus passes for public service buses – will provide a direct service instead.