Education boss dismisses Chailey School bus pass plea
A plea by a group of families to give their children bus passes to attend an East Sussex school has been dismissed. Bob Standley, lead member for education at East Sussex County Council, made his decision after considering a petition backing passes for the Chailey School pupils.Six students living in Town Littleworth Road, near Barcombe, had either lost or been turned down from receiving school bus passes, the petition said. The council denied that the decision was result of a "new policy" or "cost-cutting exercise", and said children did not receive passes if safe walking routes to school were available.
The petition had been signed by over 1,000 people by Monday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.Charlotte Strong, whose children have been impacted by the decision, said: "I wouldn't want to walk that route twice a day on my own, let alone [while] accompanying my children."
Rachel Gilmore, another parent, said they were not consulted on the matter."Cars drive past really fast and there is no pavement or step up," Ms Gilmore added.In support of the petition, a number of councillors expressed concerns over safety and the potential increase in car drop offs.Councillor Standley said guardians were responsible for school transportation and said there was a "logistical challenge" to changing the rules.He said the decision could be appealed by the families.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ulster Unionist MLA to step down after less than a year in job
Colin Crawford is to step down as the Ulster Unionist assembly member for north Antrim after less than a year in the confirmed the news on Facebook on Friday evening, citing it as "the right decision for me and my family".Crawford replaced Robin Swann as the party's MLA for the area last July after Swann became the MP for South Antrim in the general selection caused an internal row within the party, prompting Doug Beattie to resign as leader after he had supported another candidate for the job. In the post, Crawford said he had taken the decision to step away from politics after "much soul searching".He was also a councillor prior to becoming an MLA.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Brit & US spy planes high-tail it out of Gulf amid fears of Iran reprisals over Israel's missile and drone blitz
A TRIO of British and US spy planes high-tailed it out of the Gulf amid fears of Iran reprisals over Israel's missile and drone blitz. An RAF Rivet Joint plane and two US Rivet Joints scrambled at dawn from Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. They all flew back to Europe. The planes are packed with spy sensors for hoovering up signals intelligence and the can monitor air defence radars – providing valuable battlefield intelligence. All three planes left Qatar between 4am and 5am local time – as Israel announced it had attacked Iran. Flight records show the US planes had spent weeks taking turns, on alternate days, to patrol Iran's coast. The RAF jet spent three and a half weeks at the same US Air Base but the UK crew switched off their transponder so there is no publicly available flight data. An RAF source claimed the plane was there support the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier strike group, which is sailing through the region. UK defen The UK's Rivet Joint jets are flown by RAF pilots but mostly crewed by government code-breakers from the GCHQ listening post. The RAF source said the UK spy plane was not involved in Iran operations. They claimed return to base yesterday was 'a coincidence'. Any intelligence collected by the RAF's three Rivet Joints is automatically shared with America. Iran launches wave of missiles at Israel & smoke billows over Tel Aviv after Ayatollah vow to avenge blitz on nuke sites A source said Britain would have been unable to stop America sharing intelligence from British flights with Israel if the Pentagon chose to do so. One of the RAF's three Rivet Joints was nearly shot down by Russia over the Black Sea three years ago. The planes, based at RAF Waddington, Lincs, have been spying on Russia's defences in southern Ukraine and occupied Crimea. The RAF Rivet Joint based in Qatar returned to RAF Waddington yesterday. The US jets flew to Crete. 2 2
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
PSNI prepares ‘scaled-up' operation for weekend after disorder
There will be 'a large policing presence across Northern Ireland' over the weekend, a senior officer has said. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the PSNI has prepared a 'scaled-up' policing operation in anticipation of any further disorder. He said the mobilisation, which would include officers from Scotland, was 'to reassure our communities and protect our streets'. It comes after 63 police officers were injured in what has been called a 'week of shame' in Northern Ireland. Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. A number of homes were targeted, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said about 50 households have received assistance across the week, and 14 families provided with emergency accommodation. Political leaders called for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday. First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop. 'What we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said. 'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland', with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how co-operation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder in Portadown. There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped. It is being treated by police as arson with a racially motivated hate element. Twenty-two police officers were injured in overnight disorder in Portadown after they came under sustained attack with heavy masonry, fireworks and beer kegs in the Co Armagh town on Thursday. A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder in Portadown. There was also sporadic disorder elsewhere in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, following mainly peaceful protests, including in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast, where bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in Avoniel Road in what police have called a racially motivated attack. A small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey was also reported, and anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards. Meanwhile, a house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine which led to the evacuation of a family with three young children is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said that since violence erupted in Ballymena on Monday, 63 officers have been injured. Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it has been 'a week of shame with appalling levels of unrest in towns and cities'. 'Burning people out of their homes, attacking a leisure centre, and the specific targeting of individuals and property fuelled by overt racism and prejudice, is totally deplorable,' he said. 'Yet again, our overstretched police officers have also been attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks as they sought to keep people safe and maintain law and order. 'They have held the line with great courage and professionalism and are owed a debt of gratitude by this community. 'They went to the aid of vulnerable people, have prevented further savage attacks and have undoubtedly saved lives.' Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned on Thursday that his officers would be coming after the 'bigots and racists' behind the disorder. He also said that the young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
