Vandals target bus (From Penarth Times)

Vandals target bus

MINDLESS vandalism is destroying a Penarth bus service which transports elderly and disabled people.

The bus is life line for a lot of old people who can not get to the shops or go to events. Vandals broke windows on four separate occasions in the last three weeks.

When the glass needs replacing, a coach builder has to fit it, because the windows aren't standard.

Margaret Read, chairman and co-founder of the buses said: "This vandalism is the worst we have experienced since we were established in 1987. It is not only causing disruption to our passengers but, as a consequence, the service may be discontinued."

She continued by saying the two vehicles are currently parked in Penarth Tesco's.

But they have been asked to move them because of the possibility of encouraging vandalism in the car park.

Geoffrey Briggs, 91, of Bridgman Court said: "We would not know what to do without the service because it is a wonderful help.

I had to stop driving and we rely on it to get to Tesco's."

Treasurer of the charity and volunteer driver, Don Read said: "It will be a very hard task to find another place to park the buses.

If we can not find another area the buses may have to be discontinued. And for a lot of the passengers, the service is priceless."

He added that the people are picked up from their homes and taken back to their homes. Without this bus it would be very difficult for many of the users to get out.

Margaret Bannister, 82, of Bridgman Court said: "We would not get around without it. And last week we missed it because the bus was being repaired."

The bus takes ten to 15 passengers out each day. There is not a alternative for the users because the nearest door to door service is run in Cardiff.