Hi. Thinking of moving to Cheltenham because of work . Found a house in Bentham but unfortunately it's not on the bus route or safe to walk. Maybe once a week we won't be able to take/collect our DD from the bus stop. Does anyone know any reliable school taxi services or any parent who could share to hsfg. Willing to pay above costs. Any ideas or help would be great.

On phone so can’t do it currently but there are things to bear in mind if you are considering any sort of lift share - hopefully someone will post the link.

But, additionally, if you are considering paying someone who is not a licensed taxi driver (ie another parent) you should know that instantly their insurance becomes null and void - even if it is petrol money - but especially if you are paying “above costs”.

Thank you..hadn't thought about that. Guess any recommendations of a reliable school taxi service.

I'm just intrigued as to why one would deliberately move to somewhere where it was not safe to walk to the bus stop? How on earth do the residents go about normal daily life?

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx

Yes that's what has stopped us buying but really liked the house and we've looked at plenty. New estate that prob should have planning permission. Just after ideas as not going to buy without an idea if we can make arrangements.

For reference as mentioned above:
Checklist when considering a car share:

• How much do you really know about this parent from a child safeguarding point of view? (Remember, anyone working with children, e.g. bus drivers for the school service, must have a current DBS form.)
• How much do you really know about their driving skills? Have you seen their insurance and car roadworthy details? (Remember that public transport and dedicated school services are required to have these, to a high level.)
• How would you cope if your child fell out with the other children in the car pool, or wanted to do different after school activities, or didn't want to stay after school when the other children were staying late?
• How would you cope if one of the other car pool parents had their car break down, or off the road for some other reason, at short notice?
• What if it's your turn to drive, and you or your child is sick?
• What if the other family turns out to be unreliable, or the driver/their child is regularly late, or ill?
• What if the other child moves to a different school?
• What if one child needs to stay after school for an activity or event?
• What if the driver smokes when driving?
• What if the driver's conversation turns out to be objectionable or age inappropriate?

Ok . Thanks for all your help

Do you mean they are awaiting for planning permission to build a bus stop, or that the estate itself may not have planning permission? In which case school transport is going to be the least of your worries.

Don't forget that children grow up fast when they go to secondary school and what might feel 'unsafe' for a ten year old is almost certainly going to be OK for a street wise 13 year old. Unless there are hidden dangers in Bentham which you haven't mentioned.

From the (admittedly very) distant past, I remember 'Bentham Turn' as a stop on our bus route into Cheltenham. I don't remember Mum digging me in the ribs and warning me never to get the urge to leap off the bus and investigate the area. Whatever has happened there in the meantime, at least it should keep house prices down, if it's now that dodgy?

Still don't understand why one would want to buy a house in such a dangerous area, though? There are plenty of perfectly nice low-crime areas in IGloucestershire with safe access to a bus route into Cheltenham, I'm sure.

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx

I think maybe my post wasn't clear. It's not dodgy at all. There is a footpath to a public bus about a mile away but no footpath to the school bus on shurdington road and in some cases no verge so in my view not safe and too far to walk. I really just wondered if anyone used a taxi for the one day a week we can't drop her to the bus stop. They have built the estate with no provision there at the moment but I guess if more houses get built that could change