Disabled child stranded in Llandudno after mini bus skids

Dec 23 2010 by Eva Ketley, North Wales Weekly News

Colwyn Bay snow

A DISABLED pupil from a special school in Llandudno was left stranded in a mini bus for an hour on Friday after the council failed to grit the road leading to it.

Angry residents of Nant y Gamar Road in Craig-y-Don have made several calls to the council over the last few weeks complaining about the lack of grit, but claim they were told it’s not a priority, despite the majority of pupils being transported to and from Ysgol-y-Gogarth by mini-bus and taxi.

One resident said she and her neighbour both phoned the council again on Friday after a mini bus carrying pupils skidded on the icy surface outside their houses.

“A number of vehicles had to be abandoned. One bus carrying disabled pupils narrowly missed another vehicle as it skidded side-on down the road.

“One pupil in a wheelchair couldn't be moved from the bus and had to stay on board in the freezing conditions for an hour.

“After numerous calls to Conwy highways and North Wales Police a gritting lorry eventually arrived and the bus was moved.

“The council was made fully aware of the situation on this road weeks ago when the cold snap started, but failed to do anything about it.”

Craig-y-Don councillor Janet Finch-Saunders was upset to hear about the incident.

“This must have been a most unpleasant experience. I feel that on this occasion we might have been more pro-active in the first instance to ensure this type of incident was avoided,” she said.