The DoI Minister has branded Manx.News as ‘utter nonsense’ after reporting on her own stated plans to drop dedicated school buses.
This follows the minister saying, in Tynwald, “we will no longer have dedicated school buses”.
Dr Michelle Haywood addressed our earlier report during a debate on the DoI’s Transport Strategy.
She told members: “While I’m on my feet, Mr. President, I believe that a news broadcaster, Energy FM (was actually Manx.News, but never mind), is reporting that I’ve said school buses will be axed.
“I think this is in my comments to Ms Edge earlier, pointing out that perhaps the school buses will be slightly different and will be made into service buses, and so therefore we’d be able to support the people who live in Hayward Court.
“I’d like to reassure this court and anyone else that Energy FM have got it wrong. I am not axing school buses. Our school buses carry out about half million journeys a year.
“That is absolutely important to all of our communities and they have a huge value in supporting how our children move around and get to and from schools and there is no intention by the department to axe school buses.
“Utter nonsense.”
Our Response
In response, we stand by what we said, listen for yourself as the DoI Minister states “we will no longer have dedicated school buses, but we will have buses that can be used by the community more generally”, so they may open up the opportunity to use those buses that she’s referring to in order to provide additional transport options”.