![School year draws to a close, but still no bus School year draws to a close, but still no bus](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32kBiNXKdNzQaL7Y5YnSLYu/5a5c756e-92fe-41fc-ae4d-82a1bcaa8b47.JPG/r0_0_3488_5232_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The end of the school year has delivered no good news for Clarence Town Public School parents fighting for a bus service for their children.
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Fairfax reported earlier this year that the school community was in disbelief after the State Government had denied their request for a bus service due to the cost.
The school’s Parents and Carers Association (P &C) has been working with the local bus company Sheltons for years to obtain the service only to be told by Transport NSW the service would be “an excessive cost for the number of passengers who would benefit”.
P an& C President Matt Brown said most people can’t believe the school does not already have a bus service.
“In regional and rural areas it’s almost an intrinsic right that our children are given ready access to and from public schools,” he said.
“A family with school children in Clarence Town and surrounding rural areas can catch a school bus to no less than eight schools in the district – just not to Clarence Town Public School.”
Mr Brown said despite the issue not being resolved by the end of this term, he was encouraged by the support from the State Member for Upper Hunter, Michael Johnsen MP.
“While there is no good news as yet we are still working on the issue,” he said.
“Mr Johnsen’s office is still pursuing the issue and it is encouraging that he has raised the issue directly with the Deputy Premier,” he said.
“They are trying their best for us.”
The P & C and Sheltons Bus Service recently met with Transport for NSW but Mr Brown said their key concern is government funding.
“It really needs the whole of government approach so critical aspects like community development and social issues can be factored in,” he said.