7th September 2015
Dear Parent / Guardian,
Re: Reinstatement of Bus Services to Ysgol Y Wern
As you may be aware, the bus services to and from Ysgol Y Wern have been
withdrawn, following the removal of funding from Cardiff City Council. These services
have been essential to parents and the school itself in recent years and we, as parents,
are keen to have the service reinstated for a number of reasons.
As a result of the bus service being suspended, there will be a significant increase in the
amount of traffic around the school. As well as causing further congestion and issues
with parking, which currently adversely affect the local residents, there is the issue of
the safety of our children, which is of major concern to all.
Moreover, with limited spaces in Clwb Carco's breakfast and after-school clubs, the lack
of a school bus service will affect those parents who are unable to find alternative
childcare arrangements.
A further concern expressed by parents is that they may be forced to withdraw their
children from Welsh-medium education at Ysgol Y Wern to enrol them at schools which
are more easily accessible. A reduction in the number of pupils on roll would ultimately
affect the opportunities of all our children.
Prior to the suspension of the service, there were two buses running: one that served
Pontprennau, Lisvane and Thornhill, and the other serving Heath and Rhwbina, with a
chaperone on each. In order to reduce costs, we propose that there should be just one
service collecting from fewer stops - amalgamating some of the previous stops - to
minimize the time that the children spend on the bus. We have approached a number of
bus companies, and one company is extremely interested in delivering the service. As a
guide, the price agreed between the bus company and another local school requiring a
similar service, although with a longer route, for the first half-term is as follows:

£120 for a full pass (mornings and afternoons);

£64 if children were only travelling one journey per day (morning or afternoon),
which, we feel, is favourable when compared to alternative childcare arrangements.
Once the service is up and running, the bus company will consider offering tickets for ad
hoc journeys. The council has agreed to maintain funding for the chaperone, as
provided on the previous bus services.
We are looking for those parents who require school transportation to indicate whether
they would commit to an amended bus service. We can then approach local bus
companies to advise them of the numbers that would utilize the service; to determine
whether it would be commercially viable to them. We would thus be grateful if you could
complete the slip below and then return to the school by Friday 11th September, as we
are keen to resolve this issue as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you and we would like to thank you for your assistance
in this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Ysgol Y Wern School Bus Parents’ Action Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please complete and return to Ysgol Y Wern by Friday 11th September
Name of parent _______________________________________________________
Name of child / children __________________________________________________
Telephone number ______________________________________________________
Email address _________________________________________________________
Bus stop used _________________________________________________________
Frequency ____________________________________________________________
Pass type required
appropriate)
2
am / pm
am only
pm only
(please circle, as
3