Quadring needs late afternoon bus service for college students, it is claimed

College students from Quadring face a three-mile drive or walk home as there are no buses back to the village when their day ends, it has been claimed.

Parish councillors have asked bus company Brylaine to extend its K59 Boston to Spalding service so that students from Quadring who attend Boston College can get home after 4pm.

Currently the last K59 bus service to Quadring leaves Boston at 4pm so that students whose lectures end later have to catch the 5.15pm service which terminates at Donington.

Parish councillor Sarah Rycroft-Jones said: "I know three people who are enrolled at the college and who enquired about bus drop-offs in Quadring.

"They were reassured that the 5.15pm bus would drop them off in Quadring, even though the Brylaine timetable didn't show that.

"I myself raised the issue, not only with Boston College but also Brylaine on several occasions and was told by both parties to contact Lincolnshire County Council's school transport services department as it’s their responsibility.

"I know two people who are doing A -Levels at college and both of them try to leave early so they can get the 4pm bus to Quadring.

"There is another person that I know of who is on a construction course at the college and he can't physically walk the three miles home from Donington, he has a taxi paid for by the county council.

"We're trying to keep young people off of the road but this lack of a late bus service seems to spur younger drivers on, while encouraging others to get lifts as the alternative is a three-mile walk home from Donington."

Marrianne Garbutt, managing director of Brylaine, said: "I spoke to Boston College at the end of January to ask for the numbers of students from the Quadring area (including Eaudyke and Fen).

"There were 15 students registered of which seven had been issued with bus passes, based on them using the K59 service.

"What is telling is that Boston College has had no complaints, concerns or issues raised on this matter by students or parents.

"The college is excellent at making sure there is transport provision for students and I honestly believe that if anyone had contacted them directly, the college would have raise it with us and Lincolnshire County Council school transport services in order to find a resolution.

"I was then contacted by Quadring Parish Council and I asked its clerk to speak to any of the local residents with concerns on college transport issues to contact the college's transport department so that both Brylaine, Boston College and Lincolnshire County Council school transport services had a better understanding of need.

"Up until the college was closed to students due to COVID-19) on March 20, no one allegedly requiring the bus to go to Quadring at 5.15pm had approached its transport department."