A NEWPORT mother who is fighting for her disabled son to have “safe travel” to college has slammed Newport council’s response.

Amanda Merrett, who has motor neurone disease, previously spoke of her attempts to arrange safe transport for her 19-year-old autistic son, Ieuan, to go to Cross Keys College as having failed.

Mrs Merrett, who lives on Moore Crescent, said: “Ieuan is not able to catch a bus because of his autism.

“Really he needs to be picked up from outside our house and taken to college. He needs a regular routine to follow.”

A spokeswoman from Newport City Council said that the council is “sympathetic” to the family and has offered a carer’s assessment.

She said: “However, that is not related to the transport issue.

“The council has no legal responsibility to provide transport and has recently reviewed its transport policy to make sure public money is not being used for so-called ‘double-funding’.

“In some cases, people have been receiving the higher rate mobility allowance in the form of a car or payments to meet their transport needs and the council has also been funding those same transport needs.

“In future, people receiving the higher rate mobility allowance will not receive additional transport funding from the council.”

Mrs Merrett described the response as “disgusting”.

“They have missed our point,” said Mrs Merrett. “For Ieuan to go all he needs is a vehicle to come here and pick him up. I wish they could sort this.

“We have a mobility car but only my husband can drive it but he can’t take Ieuan in the morning because I can’t be left.”

She added: “The response is disgusting. Ieuan needs this sorted.”