Hazelwood ‘evaluating demand’ for dedicated bus service for Newtownabbey students

In 2017 the Newtownabbey post-primary school secured a dedicated bus service for pupils travelling from Rathcoole and Monkstown to the college.

It followed a successful campaign spearheaded by then PTA chairperson, Roberta Neely (for more on this story read here)

This week, a spokesperson for the Whitewell Road school said: “Hazelwood Integrated College is in the process of evaluating the demand for additional transport provision for our students.

“Once this has been identified, we will liaise with Translink and the college PTFA.”

Roberta Neely has renewed calls for the dedicated after-school transport. She established a campaign page on social media last week- ‘Hazelwood return bus’ Facebook page.

Speaking to the Times, Mrs Neely said: “I have started this campaign again for the return leg as there is still no return bus two years later.

“More of our young people are going to Hazelwood Integrated College and as parents we want our kids to learn, respect and travel together.

“Our bus in the mornings is full, so I hope Translink see sense and give us the return bus that our communities need.”

Responding to the comments, a Translink spokesperson said: “The safety of our passengers and staff is our main priority. We have received no request from Hazelwood Integrated College for a change to the home to school transport provision currently in place.

“We continue to operate a frequent timetabled service (approximately every 10 minutes) available 500 metres from the school at Grays Lane.

“Many pupils continue to safely and regularly avail of these services to Newtownabbey, Rathcoole, Jordanstown and Carrickfergus.

“We will continue to monitor capacity on these routes to ensure there is sufficient capacity to meet the demand of school pupils and other bus service users.

“We continue to liaise with the school and local elected representatives on this issue.”

North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley, who has been contacted by a number of concerned parents, said her office has been in touch with Hazelwood College and Translink.

The DUP representative said: “I have asked for clarification in relation to the number of pupils attending the school from Newtownabbey in order to provide the evidence to submit a case for a sustainable school bus service.”

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