Students Left Without Bus Services Following Collapse of GHA Coaches

Parents of students who rely on commercial bus services to travel to school are being warned that replacement transport has not been found for several high schools following the collapse of GHA Coaches.

Those who do rely on commercial bus services are being advised to make alternative arrangements ahead of the new term in September 2016.

The news comes as a result of the collapse of GHA Coaches in July, meaning a a number of bus routes which previously operated on a commercial basis and which were used by school-aged pupils who are not eligible for free school transport have not been replaced.

Following the news GHA Coaches had entered administration, alternative transport was found for schools affected for the remainder of the term. However replacement buses have not been found for four schools.

Services and areas affected are detailed below:

St Joseph’s School – Garden Village, Little Acton, Acton, Borras Park and Caia Park
The Maelor School, Penley – Marchwiel
Ysgol Rhiwabon – Cefn Mawr, Plas Madoc
Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen – Chirk

A statement released by Wrexham Council on Monday continues onto say: “As a consequence of increasing demand for places by pupils who are eligible for free transport, no concessionary seats will be available for non-qualifying pupils for September 2016. Again, parents will need to make alternative arrangements to get their children to school for the new term.”

September 2016 also sees the start of significant changes to Post-16 transport across the county borough, which will no longer be provided by Wrexham Council.

In April 2016 proposals to axe Post-16 transport were backed by Wrexham Council in a bid to make savings of almost £400,000.

As a result transport will be available for those students who commenced their courses in September 2015 (and will be aged under-19 on 1 September 2016), but they must reapply by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling in to the Council’s Contact Centre on Lord Street (on the corner by the bus station).

Students who are starting or attending Post-16 education courses are advised to contact their sixth form establishment for information regarding private transport arrangements that may be available.

Councillor David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “Due to the difficult situation since the collapse of the private transport company GHA coaches, we wished to alert students, parents and carers of the loss of previously operated commercial services that some pupils used for transport to and from school.

“Whilst the Council has issued a number of tenders for new replacement bus services, these are not a complete duplicate of the previous services.

“Officers continue to work with operators and schools informing them of the present situation.

“In addition, I will continue dialogue with the Welsh Government regarding the loss of capacity for transport services and the financial position with transport services in North Wales.”

Last week Wrexham.com reported that two former directors of GHA Coaches had bid to run some of the