'Parents can't afford to get kids to school'

Published 20 Apr 2010 08:00 8 Comments

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A MUM has hit out at a hefty increase in price for the bus her children take to school.

Caroline Elkins' children aged 12 and 13 take the 108 Courtney Coaches bus from their home in Jennett's Park to Garth Hill College in Priestwood every day.

But on Wednesday last week, near the start of the Easter holidays, they found that the price of a return ticket for children aged five to 15 had gone up by a third - from £1.50 to £2.

Ms Elkins, 44, from Linnet Close, said: "The other parents are disgusted. There are some single parents here and even if they have got to find another £2.50, that is a lot for every week.

"There are some single parents and people on benefits who can't afford to get their children to school."

There is currently no school on the Jennett's Park estate and many families have no option but to catch Courtney Coaches' buses.

Ms Elkins said: "I'm now paying £20 a week to get my children to school. For me, it is another £5 a week, which is a lot of money in anyone's book.

"Anyone with one or two children may not be able to afford to get them to school." Ms Elkins, who is also chairwoman of Jennett's Park Community Association, added: "You can't justify just putting up children's tickets.

"They are making money out of the children because they know that they have got to use that bus. When your children are at secondary school you want them to be independent but there isn't a safe cycle route the whole way so the bus is the only option. If there were four people, it would probably be cheaper to get a taxi."

Courtney Coaches confirmed the increase, but declined to comment any further.

This article appeared in Villager 15 Apr 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Craig Jenkins
Unregistered User
Apr 20, 15:33
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You live in a fairly new estate with nice houses and your moaning about an extra £2.50 a week!!

Get with the times

your lucky courtney is running a bus in the new estate

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TheUglyTruth
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Apr 20, 18:26
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There is a perfectly usable Cycling infrastructure in the town of Bracknell. As a seasoned Cyclist I can assure you that Bracknell is far and away better than almost any town you can mention.

If you look at the councils own cycling guide to Bracknell, http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/map-and-guide-to-cycling-in-the-bracknell-area.pdf, you'll see that 90% of your childrens journey can be taken by bicycle on 100% traffic free routes.

I hate to say 'when I were a lad', but I cycled to school from the age of 12 in Brighton, and this was in the mid '80s when people were not as aware of cyclists as they are now, and there were NO cycle lanes, let alone the excellent cycle only routes and underpasses we have here.

T.U.T.

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MPWannaB
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Apr 21, 09:58
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If you move to an area knowing it is without shops or a school why are you complaining about not having shops or a school.

Your house price was cheaper due to these facts so the money you have saved on this can be used to pay for the bus.

As for a 50p rise!! Come on I mean it's £2.50 a week......... if you can't afford to get your kids to school you shouldn't be having kids!

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Jason
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Apr 22, 08:10
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ouch some of these comments are a little harsh.

Lets take the comments up on their each own merit,

Cycling to school though it a very good idea, however pupils at Garth have to carry all their items for their including the PE items.

Also where it rains they will get wet.

2 Children fairs during school hours should be put on set price.

Also mention thatit was Ms Elkins' choice to buy her house on a new estate.

Fact is that Jennetts park has 20% tenents. Dont presume that Ms Elkins' has brought her home

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caroline
Unregistered User
Apr 28, 09:25
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Thank you for your comments although some are quite harsh.

Firstly can I state that the reason for the complaint is the comparison between First Bus which is £1.60 for the kids return to school in comparison to £2.00 for the courtney service. When the reality is the distance is the same.

Secondly as Jason said the kids carry a ton of stuff nowadays also we didn't choose to live here we are HA and for a lot people the extra rise in money was a lot to take.

If you take two children and two adults from GH to say the sports centre it is £9.00 return to travel from here is £10 on courtney then £9.00 again on First - and whether you are rich or poor there is a huge difference in the costs

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NiCR
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Apr 29, 16:02
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I hate to say to T.U.T. 'you are not a seasoned cyclist', but if you were you would know the map bears no relation to the reality. Not showing you have to cross 2 lanes of traffic to get on to a cycle path, cross the road half way down what appears to be a continuous route, stop at most entry points, even petrol stations, to give way to cars, the bus shelters built in the middle of the joint cycle/foot path along the London Road.

Joint cycle/foot paths that are dangerous to both types of user.

Is the 10% non-cycleway on the Garth route where you have to detour to avoid breaking the law by cycling past Bracknell police station?

I take it like all 'seasoned' cyclists you ignore the map and annoy car drivers by using the roads.

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TheUglyTruth
Unregistered User
Jun 4, 15:44
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NiCR - If cyclists using the road annoy you I suggest you read the Highway Code and if that doesn't avail you to your obligations toward cyclists legally using the road then I suggest you sell you car.

Cycle lanes and cycle only routes are a direct result of inconsiderate drivers. Think about it.

As for the paths being broken up by junctions, they operate in exactly the same way as roads. Roads are also broken up by junctions, crossings, and intersections. It's just the way life is, we have to work together. Or is that too annoying for you?

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NiCR
1 post
Jul 16, 11:05
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Perhaps you should take your own advice in you (sic) other posts and read more carefully before assuming I am a motorist complaining about cyclists on roads. Not having 'a car to sell' I can only get to places by foot, bike or public transport. What is annoying is that cycle paths are not planned to take into consideration the needs of the cyclist. Is TheUglyTruth that you are an inconsiderate motorist?

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