College pupils forced to walk

PUPILS at Foyle and Londonderry College face having to walk long distances to and from school, weighed down by books and equipment, because the Peace Bridge has shortened the distance they travel.

From this term on - and until the new school is built at the Ebrington Barracks site - hundreds of Waterside pupils at both the Duncreggan and Northland Road sites face having to walk, or rely on their parents or the city bus services, because the Department of Education had recalculated free bus pass entitlement based on the ‘three-mile rule’.

A spokesperson for the Western Education and Library Board confirmed that only pupils at Foyle College are currently affected by the recalculations.

Following a meeting with the transport officer at the Western Education and Library Board yesterday, Tuesday, DUP MLA William Hay said revising the three-mile rule was not an option for the WELB, and other options would now have to be explored. He said this included meeting staff at Translink later today, Wednesday, to see if easing the financial burden for parents was possible.

“All we can do is ease the burden for as many families as possible at this point. We cannot move the bridge and we cannot revise the ‘three-mile rule’, so we have got to deal with this issue as best we can and try and alleviate the financial burden for as many as possible. We do realise that this will not suit everyone,” he said.

“When the Ebrington site opens we will find this issue raising its head again, and once again the Department will revise the three-mile rule. It is set in stone and has the capacity to effect a wider area within the Waterside further down the line, as well as involving a number of other schools. The thing to do now is get contingency plans in place,” he said, adding: “At our meeting with Translink we hope we will be able to find some cheaper options. The College needs to work with us now along with the parents.”

Concerned

Alderman April Garfield-Kidd said she was particularly concerned that, coming into the winter months, young children - and particularly those at the junior school who did not have access to lockers to store books and equipment, would be expected to walk long distances with heavy loads.

“I also want to know what will happen if this or subsequent winters turn out to be as bad as last year. Will the footbridge be closed and if so, what measures will be put in place to help pupils? It concerns me that the most vulnerable pupils, who are the youngest at the school, are being expected to make this journey twice daily,” she said.

“It is unrealistic to expect young children to walk from the Waterside to schools in the Cityside, not least because of the security issues involved.”

DUP colleague, Joe Miller, said the party office was deluged by “a tsunami” of complaints, adding: “When they open the Ebrington Terrace entrance to the barracks, more students will be effected. We are working to do what we can.”

Among those to receive a letter last week was Adrian McAuley, from the Limavady Road, who has a daughter at the school whono longer qualifies for a free pass.

“I support the Peace bridge and all the benefits it has brought, but parents are angry about the way in which this has been done, not least because the letters landed on the same day as the A/S and A Level results came out, and without consultation. I know that parents with children at the junior school will be hardest hit.

“It is scandalous that children are being expected to carry all their books, sports kits, art folders and maybe even musical instruments with them to school, and then carry all of that home again because they do not have access to lockers,” he said.

The chairman of Foyle College Board of Governors, Robin Young, said while the school “cannot comment on the issue as it is the WELB which determines the issue of free bus passes and on what day school buses will, or will not, be provided”, nevertheless there was “deep concern about the expectations being placed on pupils who were effected by the recalculation”.