26th November 2009

Ham & High: 'Slow' Camden Council ditched over new school bus scheme

The school run nightmare which has troubled Camden's streets for decades will finally come to an end with the introduction of a school bus scheme in January - but Camden Council has been ditched from the deal, writes Susanna Wilkey.

A private company is set to provide American-style buses for the children of private schools across Hampstead and Belsize Park in a bid to cut down he hellish morning and afternoon school run.

Camden Council was originally going to provide the buses but Transport4Schools founder Marta Baschwitz, who has been planning the scheme for two years, says the politicians were just too slow to get it started.

She said: "They were still supporting us with other things but they cannot run the buses. We have found two private companies who are currently bidding for the project. The council has been very slow and we just cannot wait any longer. By going privately we do not have to."

The group is hoping the council will speed up the process of introducing bays so the buses can pull in at seleted stops.

There will initially be four separate routes picking up 155 children in Highgate, Golders Green, West Hampstead and Muswell Hill ferrying children aged three to 11 in and out of the borough.

If successful the pilot will be rolled out to more routes and up to 700 cars will be removed from the streets in both the morning and afternoon.

Hampstead councillor Chris Knight said "Camden has really worked hard supporting this project and I have personally been very involved because I want cars off the road. If they can get it done quicker by going privately then more power to the elbow. My main concern is that we try to ease the school run for residents."