A TRAVEL company in Barry has apologised to parents for after school buses were up to half an hour late, meaning many youngsters were late for school.

Hawthorn Travel provides three school bus services to Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg in Barry - but as the new school year started earlier this month, some services were delayed for up to 35 minutes, prompting complaints from parents.

Among the services to be delayed were the S76a service on Wednesday, September 7, which the company has said was due to a shortage of drivers.

Nigel Martlew, manager of Hawthorn Travel said: “Since Covid, we have been struggling and we were going to quit but the council told us not to, as we are the only bus service for the area.

Penarth Times: Hawthorn Travel apologise for delays and late journeys due to shortage in drivers. Picture: SuppliedHawthorn Travel apologise for delays and late journeys due to shortage in drivers. Picture: Supplied (Image: supplied)Hawthorn Travel apologises for delays and late journeys due to a shortage of drivers. Picture: Supplied

“I apologise to parents for the delays, we are experiencing a shortage of drivers after the driver of the S76a had to deal with an emergency in his family.

“We have had retired drivers come out of retirement to help us and have since addressed the problem."

Mr Martlew told the Penarth Times that the problem has now been resolved with bus services returning to normal.

He added: “Since addressing the problem, busses have been on time, and we are the first bus to arrive at the school and the first bus out nice and early.”

Hawthorn Travel also operates the S76 to Penarth via Dinas Powys and the S77 that runs through Dinas Powys.

Penarth Times: Hawthorn Travel company provide three bus services to Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry. Picture: GoogleHawthorn Travel company provide three bus services to Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry. Picture: Google (Image: Google)Hawthorn Travel Company provide three bus services to Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry. Picture: Google 

The apology comes after complaints from the brother of a year 7 pupil who uses the service to get to and from school.

He said: “Every day since the new school term began, the S76a has been late arriving at school to pick up pupils.

“This has ranged from 25 to 30 minutes of delay, with the driver insisting the company has an ill driver.

“11-year-old pupils are then dropped on the opposite road of the busy B4267 and then have to attempt to cross the busy road.”

They claimed the Vale of Glamorgan council has not resolved the issue.

He added: “The Vale of Glamorgan council have been contacted about this numerous times with no response or action on the issue.”

The Vale of Glamorgan council was approached for comment.