Email glitch leads to bus fare outcry

Transport chiefs are to write to Oldham’s schools about new bus fares after it emerged that emails sent originally to some heads never arrived.

As a result, some parents have been paying up to £14 a week to send their children to school when they need pay no more than £8.50.

There was outcry and confusion among parents when the flat 80p concessionary fare for school children was scrapped at the beginning of the month and replaced with half the normal adult fare.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Richard Knowles told Transport for Greater Manchester: “There has been a lot of confusion but the reality is that most parents should concentrate on buying weekly tickets.

“I have checked with the local secondary school of which I am a governor and they have received nothing. I suspect we are holding some incorrect email addresses.

“There have been stories of worried parents facing singles fares of £1.40 a time when the maximum anyone should pay should be £8.50 for a weekly ticket on First and £5.60 on Stagecoach. It is the lack of information to parents which had been the problem.”

The authority’s finance director Steve Warrener had told members that a “major communications programme” had been mounted to “minimise potential confusion”.

This had included more than 60,000 leaflets, 6,000 posters, newspaper adverts, and emails sent to every secondary school head enclosing a draft letter to send to parents. A follow-up letter was also sent.

But Chadderton South councillor David Hibbert said: “The fact is that the information is there but it has not reached many people.”

Bus and Rail spokesman Mike Renshaw said that another letter, with an attachment to send to parents, was going out within a few days warning that children will need to carry a new “igo” proof of age card from May 16.

The letter, he said would also explain the opportunities to buy weekly tickets.