
A Herefordshire driver contracted to transport a child with special educational needs has been suspended with immediate effect following serious allegations that their vehicle was completely unroadworthy.
A local taxi driver, speaking anonymously, raised alarms about the council's home-to-school transport contracts, specifically highlighting a vehicle serving Westfield Special School in Leominster. The whistleblower claimed the vehicle was unlicensed as a taxi, uninsured, and had failed its MoT test.
In response to the allegations, a Herefordshire Council spokesperson emphasised that the safety and well-being of children on school transport “is our highest priority” and stated that the local authority takes any concerns about vehicles, drivers, or operators “extremely seriously.”
The council acted immediately once the issues were flagged. “In this case, concerns were brought to the council's attention and immediate action was taken on the same day,” the spokesperson said. “The driver was suspended from carrying out council-funded school transport work and the vehicle was withdrawn from service pending further enquiries,” while alternative travel arrangements were quickly arranged for the student.
The incident comes amidst rising costs and administrative changes for the local authority. In the year ending this March, the council spent approximately £15 million on school transport - an 18 per cent increase from the previous year - with taxis making up half of that total spending.
To combat these issues and tighten control, the spokesperson noted that the council has introduced an in-house school transport service through Hoople.
The council stated that this new system "provides greater oversight of vehicle standards, driver training, and safeguarding requirements, helping to ensure safe, reliable transport for children and young people across Herefordshire."

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