Bus trauma for disabled teenager (From Wiltshire Times)

Bus trauma for disabled teenager

6:00pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in Wiltshire By Mike Wilkinson , Senior Reporter

DISABLED teenager Kelly Brooks says she is missing out on her education because she has been repeatedly refused access to the bus she takes to her college in Trowbridge.

The 16-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer has been snubbed by several First bus drivers who claim health and safety rules dictate there is insufficient room to accommodate her wheelchair on the 9.38am 234 route from Canal Road to Wiltshire College.

Kelly, who is studying childcare, said: “I’m fed up with it because they just tell me there’s no room and then drive off.

“I have been missing a few classes and because I’m only there until June, I don’t want to fall behind.”

Her parents James and Susan Brooks are dismayed at the company which blames health and safety rules.

Mother-of-two Mrs Brooks said: “It’s disgusting. Kelly has as much right as anyone else to access that bus.

“She is losing out on her education which is unacceptable.”

In the last two weeks, Kelly has been unable to board four times and has missed several hours of classes.

Kelly’s childcare lecturer Annie Bush said: “The problem with the buses has put Kelly in a difficult position because she has already missed several classes.

“She is such an independent, bright girl and the other students have been left upset about the way she is being treated.

“She tries her best to get in, then she is turned away by the bus drivers.

“She has tried getting a bus back into town and then back out to the college again and another time she will take herself there but the wheelchair does not have enough power to get her back home.”

Wiltshire Council provided transport for Kelly when she was a student at Clarendon College, but when she started at Wiltshire College, which is just a short distance from her old school, the council cut her transport because it fell short of their required distance.

Mr Brooks, who is an Army mechanic, said: “We just accepted it at the time and in a way it helped Kelly gain more confidence in going to college by herself, but now she is being turned away on the public transport.”

Karen Baxter, a First spokesman, said: “Unfortu-nately at the time that Kelly was travelling the wheelchair and buggy space on the bus was occupied by other passengers and while the driver had asked them to move, they were unwilling to do so.

“The driver explained this to Kelly and advised her that she would have to wait for the next bus.

“If Kelly continues to have problems and if she is willing, it may be possible to arrange for one of our managers to either meet with her, or travel with her one morning, to understand the issues she is facing more fully, with a view to resolving the issues.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “The council supplies post-16 transport passes which normally apply to anyone who lives more than three miles from their place of study.

“Although this student lives under three miles, we will work with her and the bus operators to see what can be done to help her travel easily to and from the college.”