{"id":118844,"date":"2023-09-18T08:23:53","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T08:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=118844"},"modified":"2023-09-18T08:23:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T08:23:53","slug":"confusion-after-taxi-drives-300-miles-to-pick-up-kids-for-4-mile-school-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/world-news\/confusion-after-taxi-drives-300-miles-to-pick-up-kids-for-4-mile-school-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Confusion after taxi drives 300 miles to pick up kids for 4-mile school trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parents were left gobsmacked when a taxi driver made a 300-mile trip from Essex to Cornwall just to drop their children off at school four miles away.<\/p>\n

The driver from Braintree is employed to take pupils to and from North Petherwin Primary School, near Launceston.<\/p>\n

But to skim down his massive commute, he spends his weekdays at a Travelodge across the Cornish border at Sourton Cross, near Okehampton, in Devon.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/b>Fearsome gang leader drug tests 600 soldiers as crystal meth re-ignites deadly turf war<\/b><\/p>\n

Dad, Adam Paynter, told Essex Live: \u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable. If I told you that down the pub, you\u2019d think I was having a laugh, and I\u2019d had too many drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Paynter who represents Launceston North and North Petherwin on Cornwall Council, said it was a "complete waste of money" and questioned whether the local authority are using public funds appropriately.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But the council claim it's just a temporary measure and insist they're not paying for the relocation of taxi staff.<\/p>\n

Mr Paynter said his three children used to get a lift to school from a council-funded minibus.<\/p>\n

But it was changed over to a taxi service with operators coming from further and further away.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cLast year, it was slightly odd that the tender was given to A2B Taxis in Truro. <\/p>\n

"He was driving up from Truro just to take my son and the two girls to the local primary school, going back to Truro and then coming back in the afternoon to take them home.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n