I write regarding the mini buses owned and leased by local schools in and around Dorchester.

In the past these schools have been kind enough to hire these buses to local scouts when we go to summer camp and on trips, ie. hikes etc.

I now find that we can no longer hire these community mini buses, as that is what they are, because the schools are now acadamies or the lease company have stopped these vehicles being hired out.

These mini buses will now spend six weeks in the summer parked in all these schools when they could be being used by bona fide youth organisations like the scouts which is surely a good thing.

It is quite outrageous that this is allowed to happen. The buses should be used by the larger community. After all a large number of my scouts attend the local schools.

Two of our leaders have obtained the DCC mini bus awareness course so they are qualified to drive the mini buses owned by DCC.

Finally, is there anybody, school, college or academy willing to let the scouts use their mini bus for our upcoming summer camp later this month.

Brian Newton, Scout Leader, Central Dorchester Scout Troop