School stops double-decker bus journeys after crash

DOUBLE-decker buses were yesterday taken off a busy school run - less than a week after 49 pupils escaped serious injury when their bus tipped over and crashed in high winds.

Last Friday six schoolchildren were taken to hospital and 13 other pupils from Mearns Academy in Aberdeenshire were treated for minor injuries after the Stagecoach double-decker in which they were passengers crashed on Garvock Hill on the B9120 Laurencekirk to St Cyrus road as torrential rain and high winds lashed the area.

It was revealed shortly after the crash that parents had condemned the decision of Aberdeenshire Council to switch from single-deck to double-decker buses on the winding route at the start of the new school term and had called for only single-deck coaches to be used in severe weather.

A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council announced that the authority had decided to return to single-deck operations on the route, following a meeting with Stagecoach officials.

He said: "Our officers met with Stagecoach directors and it has been agreed the company will only use single-deck vehicles on the route."

The spokesman added: "Investigations into the accident are ongoing and are expected to be completed later this month. Our officers have been in close contact with the bus operator since the accident and will discuss any further matters as they arise."

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "It is important to stress that this decision does not reflect any outcome of the ongoing investigation into the incident. We are committed to understanding why this particular accident occurred and establishing as a matter of urgency whether any lessons need to be learned."

The decision was welcomed by parents, including councillor Bill Howatson, Aberdeenshire's Lord Provost. Mr Howatson, whose 15-year-old daughter Rachel would normally have been on the bus but was in Glasgow on the day of the crash, said: "It is the correct move. The accident caused a great deal of uncertainty and concern, and it was right and proper that they move quickly to deal with that."

He added: "There has been severe doubts about the use of the bus in terms of parents' minds, and that has been expressed and the council has acted on it. It's very positive news.This has been warmly welcomed in St Cyrus, where there have been concerns since the service started in the summer."

Darran Smith, 37, whose 11-year-old daughter Hannah sustained minor injuries in the crash, said: "This is fantastic news, but it is such a disappointment that it took an accident to happen before they agreed to introduce a single-decker bus permanently.

"This decision is a great one but we need to be clear that, moving forward as the winter weather sets in, we need assurances from the council and Stagecoach that whatever service they are providing is going to be suitable for the weather conditions."