SIXTH form pupils from Raglan have found themselves left out in the cold after paperwork needed for them to claim places on school transport has been delayed.

Furious Raglan parents claim that transport plans for sixth form students in the village are 'shambolic' and say that on many mornings pupils have been left standing on the roadside because school buses and service buses have been too full to take them.

Pupils from Raglan, who travel to Monmouth Comprehensive have been waiting since the beginning of the school term for Monmouthshire County Council to finalise the paperwork concerning their transport to and from school and are becoming increasingly angry at the situation.

Although Monmouthshire County Council does not have an obligation to provide free school transport for pupils over 16, consideration may be given by the authority for pupils to pay to travel on council contracted vehicles if there are spare places available.

But since the beginning of academic term parents of children aged 16 and over are still waiting for the paperwork issue to be resolved.

Last week some 25 students faced daily problems getting to school with many relying on parents to take the pupils to Monmouth in time for the start of the school day.

One concerned parent told The Chronicle, "The council has sent us letters stating that our children are allowed on the bus, but the letters are not being accepted by the bus company, which is supposedly supplied with a list of those allowed to travel."

Janet Oakley is just one of the angry parents who has contacted the Chronicle over the issue which she has been monitoring on a daily basis.

She said: "The service given to children over the age of 16 travelling on school buses has now been shambolic for two years.

"During two weeks of the new term, children have been refused transport by coach operators, as they have no passes and the council's letter stating they are to be allowed to travel is not acceptable by the bus company.

"Parents on a daily basis have had to scramble to run their children to school, as following buses would not get their children to school on time.

"The situation is no different at the end of the school day as on September 14, for example, 12 pupils were bumped off the bus in the morning including my daughter, who was also refused a seat on the bus home as the bus driver stating that the children haven't paid."

Monmouthshire's Passenger Transport Unit manager Richard Cope said, "Transport for post 16 pupils residing within the county is a non statutory element of our service, but one which the authority takes a responsibility to award either a travel grant or a concessionary seat on transport where there are spaces.

"Parents are asked to apply for either of these awards as early as possible in line with our home to school transport.

"We endeavour to award concessionary seats within a period of four to six weeks after the start of the academic year.

"However problems occur when parents either don't apply for transport or having applied assume that there is space for their child on the transport without authorisation from the authority.

"This is when we get problems with over crowding on school transport. The award letter as long as it is shown by the pupils is sufficient to allow them on to the bus."