Sheffield school buses 'working remarkably well' despite Covid restrictions, says transport bosses

Bus companies have reassured parents that pupils are safe on school transport in Sheffield during the pandemic.
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Coun Mohammed Mahroof raised concerns at a scrutiny meeting that pupils were not socially distancing on buses in the city.

He said: “There’s been a number of parents extremely concerned about the school buses, they are rather overcrowded and there’s not a great deal of social distancing happening.

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“My concern, and the concerns of the parents, is with secondary school children predicted to be the next highest rate of infections, will this cause a problem?”

Bus companies have reassured parents that pupils are safe on school transportBus companies have reassured parents that pupils are safe on school transport
Bus companies have reassured parents that pupils are safe on school transport

Bus bosses said pupils were exempt from social distancing on designated school buses.

Phil Medlicott, managing director of Stagecoach, said: “Normal public transport rules require social distancing then there are special rules for what are deemed to be closed or school contracts – usually for a single school with a single vehicle.

“We’ve agreed to convert some of our commercial revenues to dedicated school buses so there’s no need for social distancing.

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“There is a requirement that they wear masks and they’re meant to be policed by the actual school themselves to constantly remind them.

Coun Mohammed MahroofCoun Mohammed Mahroof
Coun Mohammed Mahroof

"The school buses might seem fuller than normal buses but none of them are illegally overloaded.”

Nigel Eggleton, managing director of First, said the Department of Education had given dedicated funding for school buses.

“There was a great deal of nervousness in Government in late July about the ability of public transport to carry children but in practice it’s worked remarkably well because we’ve worked very closely with the local authority and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority to understand those school movements.”

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.