A PONTYPOOL travel company owner says his firm was unable to drop more than 500 children off within their school grounds yesterday due to icy roads which had not been gritted.
Gwyn Jenkins, who owns Jenson Travel, Pontnewynydd Industrial Estate, had coaches taking around 250 children to Abersychan School, 200 children to Ysgol Bryn Onnen and 80 pupils to Padre Pio RC Primary School yesterday morning.
But he said in each case, the coaches were unable to get along the roads leading into the schools due to icy conditions.
The children therefore had to be dropped off nearby and walk across the icy roads into their schools.
Mr Jenkins said: “It is a five-minute job to grit the roads. I am very angry about it.”
Mr Jenkins said five coaches were taking children to Abersychan School while four coaches were taking children to Ysgol Bryn Onnen with two coaches carrying children to Padre Pio Primary.
He said: “It happens every time there is snow.”
Mr Jenkins said he had emailed Torfaen council with his concerns and had been told it would be passed onto the Highways Department.
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