COUNCIL chiefs are to lay bare the reasons behind the school bus chaos at the start of term.

Buses failed to turn up, children were left stranded at the side of the road and some buses left schools with no one on board while public services were overwhelmed.

The chaos stemmed from radical changes to school transport provision organised by Dorset County Council.

The council’s audit and scrutiny committee will sit down to look at the initial findings of their internal investigation into the turmoil next Thursday and make plans for the rest of the inquiries.

Brian Ellis, county councillor for Lodmoor in Weymouth, is hoping to see parents reimbursed and said the turmoil also affected small bus companies.

He said: “As a result of this they’ve got to make sure all children can get to and from school safely. Those who were put out of pocket should have some sort of recompense.”.

“People made choices and were then left adrift.”

The council awarded new contracts for the home to school service in May.

The “call to action” investigation was set up to find out the extent of any failures by the main contractor Damory Coaches and other bus services brought in to transport 10,000 of the county’s children to school.

It is evaluating how rigorous the tendering and selection process was carried out by the council before Damory was selected for 88 per cent of the services.

Interviews are being held with council staff, the managing director of Damory, head teachers and parents.

The probe will establish whether sufficient preparations were undertaken by Damory to prepare for the safe and successful delivery of the contract and whether the county council provided enough information and support.

The investigation will also look on how well bus passes were issued and the impact of the price rises.

The council believes around 1,000 students were affected by buses being missing or late and drivers not having passenger lists.

A council spokesman said: “Members of the committee will be asked to note the progress of the investigation and to provide a steer as to how it should proceed from this point as well as to make any other comments that can be taken into account as part of the evidence-gathering process.”

'It's about our children's safety'

THERE was chaos after Dorset County Council’s price hike on their contracted services saw students crowding onto public buses instead and some council services failed to turn up.

Fiona Wisher’s 14-year-old son Ryan, was one of those left stranded when he was left waiting at Crossways for a bus to The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester Mrs Wisher, 61, pictured with her son, right, said: “We need buses turning up and turning up on time so that we don’t have to worry that they are not going to be there for our children.

“That’s a dangerous situation and the clocks change at the end of the month so it will be darker.”

“It’s about our children’s safety.”