School bus routes get overhaul

Several bus routes have been overhauled following complaints about Western Bay's new school bus service.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday there had been "a few hiccups" with the new service since it took over responsibility from the Ministry of Education at the beginning of the school term this year.

Papamoa woman Emma Hacker said her 11-year-old daughter had been catching the 7.10am bus from Papamoa to get to Mount Maunganui Intermediate at 7.30am "but by the end of the week she's knackered".

Ms Hacker also questioned the safety of having children catching a bus so early with mornings getting darker.

"She's been scootering down about a kilometre to the later bus now, which is further away. If she's walking, it's quite a huge way if it's raining," Ms Hacker said.

She also questioned why the bus service was able to pick up from Grant Place in Papamoa last year, but not this year.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate Principal Lisa Morresey said the early bus times had been an issue and she had begun discussing options with the council before school started. "Obviously we have staff here first thing in the morning but it becomes a really long day for the kids."

Ms Morresey said she was rapt to learn the council would now make adjustments to the school's bus run.

Regional council transport policy manager Garry Maloney said in a written statement the Mount Maunganui College and Intermediate bus changes would likely take effect "in the next week or so".

Mr Maloney said the changes would "hopefully allay any fears parents had about students having to leave home for school early in the mornings, especially as winter approaches".

When the service began, the council received up to 20 complaints and feedback a day. They were now receiving about five calls or emails a day.

Complaints included drivers not stopping for students, a bus waiting in the wrong place at a school, plus routes, timetables and stops not suiting parents.

Mr Maloney said it was following up the incident of drivers not stopping to ensure it did not happen again.

On Monday this week, school children in Welcome Bay were left stranded in the rain after their school bus failed to show. The regional council blamed the incident on miscommunication.

The new routes will ensure no service begins before 7.30am and will include additional stops for intermediate students in the afternoon, Mr Maloney said.