By Nick Jackson, Local Democracy Reporter

Furious parents of children in Stockport say they are at their wits' end over a service they claim often turns up late – or not at all – and which gets 'lost' on the way to school.

Emma Peers, who lives in Heaviley, sends her 13-year-old son Carter to Harrytown Catholic High School a couple of miles away.

He uses the 805 service. "He is constantly getting there late," she said. "One time the bus ended up in Poynton and this week the bus went into Manchester city centre and Carter sent me images of the Etihad Stadium. My son's school is in Romiley.

"I have spoken with the Bee Network on multiple occasions and sent many emails, including screen shots of my son' tracking location which shows just how far wrong the driver has gone from the planned route.

"I even had to resort to reporting my child as a lost item as they don't have an option to speak to someone regarding the issues raised, they seem to have no regard for not only the children's safety and education."

Emma Peers has raised her concerns with the Bee Network (Image - LDRS)

Holly Morris lives in Portwood Stockport and also sends her son, Finn, 13, to Harrytown. She said he has given up trying to get on the 805 service because it is so 'unreliable'.

She said: "The school bus services are not fit for purpose. He now walks to the British Gas depot near our home to get a public bus because, as far as I am concerned, there is not a school bus. I cannot fathom how it can be so difficult to organise reliable transport for these kids and surely a safe, reliable journey to school is a fundamental right."

TfGM's director of bus Stephen Rhodes said: "We are committed to ensuring that Bee Network services are reliable, and passengers get where they need to on time.

"While some of the initial services arrived late in the first two weeks, predominantly due to the severe weather, punctuality has improved to the point all morning journeys except one have subsequently left and arrived on time.

"We have received a complaint from the parent of a child who uses this service, and we will, of course, ensure that the concerns raised are fully investigated."

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