PARENTS of a five-year-old girl denied a seat on her school bus have been told they cannot challenge the decision.
Holly Bishop is not allowed to catch the bus because she lives on a farm on Upper Maythorn Lane which is 50m closer to Millhouse Primary than Thurlstone Primary where she started in January.
Her older brother Jack was also denied a seat on the bus when he started at the Thurlstone school last year but his parents asked for a review and the decision was reversed.
Cabinet education spokeswoman Coun Linda Burgess admitted that was a procedural error because the rules governing school transport cannot be challenged. She said Holly’s case would not be reviewed but Stephen and Joanne Bishop still want Holly’s the decision reversed.
Stephen said: “We are talking about 50m. It is absolutely stupid.
“We won the last appeal for Jack so now they have changed the rules. It is as though they are playing football and move the goal posts whenever it suits them. “Jack gets picked up and taken to school, why shouldn’t Holly?
Stephen or Joanne have to take time off work to take Holly to school themselves and do not want to move her to Millhouse Primary.
Coun Brenda Hinchliff is lobbying Barnsley Council to reverse the decision on the Bishops’ behalf.
She said: “The whole thing needs some common sense applying. Abolishing the appeal procedure is not fair at all. People should have the right to appeal.” Coun Burgess added: “The authority remains committed providing transport for pupils to their nearest community school.”
