A SCHOOL in Denbigh is “desperately trying to resolve” issues that have arisen after news that a coach service transporting pupils to and from the school will be discontinued.

Voel Coaches’ private service to St Brigid’s School, Plas-yn-Green, Mold Road will stop running after Friday, February 17.

The route starts at Voel’s depot in Dyserth, and stops in Meliden, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Rhuddlan and St Asaph enroute to St Brigid’s.

Denbighshire County Council expressed its sympathies for the families affected by this change, but did not say if it would arrange alternative travel.

Extracts from a letter, sent from Voel to the parents concerned, read: “Our decision was not taken lightly, and many factors had to be considered regarding the operating costs of our entire fleet and driver availability.

“The conclusion to cancel this service is an outcome we hoped to avoid, as Voel Coaches has operated this route successfully over several years and built many positive relationships with the families travelling with us.”

Leah Crimes, head of St Brigid’s, said on behalf of the school and its governors: “St. Brigid's School and its governors are extremely concerned about this situation.

“We did not know that this letter was going to our parents until one of the parents forwarded the letter.

“Whilst this bus service is not managed or arranged by the school and is a private arrangement between the parents and Voel, we are advocating on our parents' behalf, and working with the council, and other possible coach companies to try to help to resolve this, as well as facilitating meetings.

“Our parents being told that the service is ceasing at half term is very unfair and stress-inducing for the parents and pupils.

“We are desperately trying to resolve this as soon as possible, to either try to overturn the decision at Voel, or to help find an alternative solution.”

A weekly ticket costs £30 per person, with the full journey between Voel’s coach depot and the Denbigh school taking roughly 70 minutes.

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Its full list of stops are as follows:

Dyserth

• Voel Coach Depot

Meliden

• Garage Bus Stop

Prestatyn

• Meliden Road / Bryntirion Avenue Bus Stop

• Prestatyn Police Station

• Y Ffrith Bus Stop

Rhyl

• Eastville Bus Stop / Denmore Stores

• All-weather Pitch / Pendyffryn Road North

• Boulevard Bus Stop / Dewi Sant

Rhuddlan

• Pentre Lane Bus Stop (morning only)

• Police Station Bus Stop (morning only)

• Harvey’s / Marsh Road Bus Stop

• Vicarage Lane Bus Stop (afternoon only)

• Rhyl Road Bus Stop (afternoon only)

St Asaph

• The Roe / Surgery Bus Stop (morning only)

• Ysgol Glan Clwyd Bus Stop

• Ashly Court / The Roe Bus Stop (afternoon only)

Denbigh

• St Brigid’s School

Voel Coaches marketing manager, Chris Gentile, was also sympathetic to the situation, and hopes to explain to parents in detail the reasons behind the decision.

A meeting was held on Tuesday (January 24) among parents affected by the changes.

Chris said: “We’re in a very difficult position. It was a commercial decision that has been made, but the school was informed of the letter being released to the parents.

“I did receive an email late on Monday evening, asking if anyone was able to attend a meeting on Tuesday, but we had nobody available.

“I’m hoping to find out when the next meeting is; if there is going to be a next one. I don’t want us to hide away from it. I want to be able to explain the reasons behind it to them all.

“We’re a family-run business, and know how stressful this will be for the parents. We will try to support them as best we can.

“Of course, our hands are tied on how much we’re able to do for them, but we’re willing to help try and find, maybe, another operator to take it on.”

A Denbighshire County Council spokesperson added: “The council is sympathetic to the issue parents and carers are facing.

“However, this is a privately arranged service between parents and carers and Voel Coaches and not organised by the council.”

Possible alternative options for travel are with the following Arriva buses:

• Morning – number 35 service from Prestatyn Bus Station at 7.20am to Rhuddlan; change to number 51S service to St Brigid’s.

• Afternoon – number 51S service from St Brigid’s to Rhuddlan; change to either number 36 service at 4.12pm and arrive at Prestatyn Bus Station at 4.33pm; or to number 13 service at 4.01pm and arrive at Prestatyn Bus Station at 4.20pm.