Welham Travel Ltd - Welwyn Garden City

Daniel G.

As a concerned parent, I feel compelled to share our deeply disappointing and troubling experience with Welham Travel's school bus service. While I understand that no service is perfect, the issues we’ve encountered go far beyond minor inconveniences—they directly compromise the safety and well-being of the children in their care.

First and foremost, the driver assigned to my son’s route drives recklessly, and it’s absolutely unacceptable. On multiple occasions, my son has come home telling us about the bus stopping dangerously abruptly. To make matters worse, the driver consistently stops on the wrong side of the road, forcing children to cross streets unnecessarily. This blatant disregard for basic safety protocol is shocking and has left me worried sick every time my son gets on that bus.

Punctuality is another major issue. The driver regularly arrives over ten minutes late when picking up the children from school. This might seem like a minor inconvenience to some, but for working parents and children who already have packed schedules, this delay causes significant disruption. Worse, it shows a lack of professionalism and respect for the parents and children relying on this service.

The driver’s handling of drop-offs is even more alarming. She has reportedly attempted to make some children walk over a mile home rather than taking a slightly longer route to ensure they are dropped off safely. It’s appalling that a professional transport service would prioritize their convenience over the safety of the children they are responsible for. The idea of leaving young children to fend for themselves in such a way is beyond comprehension.

The most disturbing issue, however, came to light recently. My son informed me that the driver has been video recording the children during their rides. There is no signage on the bus indicating that recording takes place, and as far as I’m aware, no permission has been sought from the parents. This is an egregious invasion of privacy and raises serious concerns about what these recordings are being used for and who has access to them. At no point was this ever communicated to the parents, and I am deeply uncomfortable with the idea of my child being filmed without consent.

Welham Travel has a responsibility to provide a safe, reliable, and respectful service for the children in their care. Instead, this experience has been riddled with carelessness, unprofessional behavior, and a complete lack of accountability. This is unacceptable, especially when the safety and well-being of children are at stake.

I strongly urge other parents to reconsider using this service. The risks and stress simply aren’t worth it. If Welham Travel is unwilling to make drastic improvements to their operations and take accountability for these serious lapses, they have no business transporting children. For the sake of the children and peace of mind for parents, I hope they address these issues urgently—but until then, I cannot in good conscience recommend this company to anyone.

Chris

Drivers block the road on Hadley Common every day, badly parked and completely obstructing one lane. This causes huge tailbacks in both directions. Due to this other drivers were in the past forced to drive up the kerb onto the grass of the common. Now posts have been put up, destroying the appearance of a once beautiful historic place. All due to the inconsiderate parking of Welham Travel coaches. Now drivers are forced to sit in traffic jams, while the drivers of the coaches just sit there staring, or if there are two of them, stood beside their vehicles just chatting. Disgraceful inconsiderate behaviour.
I have never seen them picking up or dropping off children at this time, around 4.30pm. Any considerate firm would turn up, pick up or drop off children, then leave. A simple solution. There are plenty of wider less busy roads nearby where they can wait.

Rachel R.

We had a great experience using Welham travel, coaches were booked for 5 schools trips. Drivers we excellent, punctual and office staff very helpful. Will definitely be booking again - Groundwork East

Kirsty

Complete obstruction every single day in either direction at Monken Hadley common. I would have thought by now after this has been going on for so long that the company would have accepted that their decision to keep causing daily havoc in peoples lives would hopefully result in a change of decision on their part and they would park somewhere else.
Their profits are being put first at the detriment of everyone else. This is not somewhere suitable for them to park and their excuses provided (see below) are insufficient. It’s never ending tailbacks both directions daily!
Finding a solution with the council? No, the company needs to have some accountability here and realise this is an extremely narrow road and blocking one entire lane for long lengths of time is so ignorant and inconsiderate of them and extremely unprofessional. They should park further away if they plan on being any length of time. Their excuses are unacceptable and what they are doing is plain wrong to the whole wider community. There is going to be an accident soon or an altercation which could be prevented, but if they haven’t changed their course of action so far let’s just wait for the inevitable.

Daniel D.

Finchley Central bus stop at 7:30 is a busy hub for a number of TFL buses including the Superloop. School kids , pensioners, parents with buggies use this stop. This morning (2/5/24) The driver of Welham coaches sat parked in the bus stop ignoring the horns of TFL bus drivers and yelling waiting passengers to move.

It’s bad enough having to go to the bus behind the coach but mine was the third bus behind the coach. Panicked passengers worried their bus will leave without them because the bus cannot gain access to the bus stop move worrying down the street. Credit to the bus drivers who waited before moving off. And because the coach is parked at the bus stop this means the departing bus have to wait for traffic to stop in the other direction to enable to them to pull out.
This could have been prevented had the driver parked the coach on the double yellow line prior to the bus stop instead of the privately owned TFL bus stop. There is enough room for cars to pass. If this coach is contracted to take school kids to school why is it the poor kids have to step out into the middle of the road or run down the street. Welham coaches- every one is equal. Please don’t discriminate.
Thank God there wasn’t the usual wheelchair users this morning.

Kathryn W.

Booked two coaches but only one arrived on time the other we waited for more than hour for on the side of the road (the driver advised that he had been at church and was never going to make it on time) Pick up time for return journey agreed with driver and he was late again. Communication atrocious, at the time no one available to speak to and once complaint started even worse. Eventually they stopped replying to my emails. Wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy

J.g

Used this coach company for a few years now to take us on holiday to Cornwall and other days out. Even used them for Woburn safari! Kids loved it. Very pleasant drivers. Fully uniformed. Knowledgeable and punctual.Clean modern vehicles, very helpful staff and eager to please customer, what more could you ask for

Peter L.

Unreliable. Made a booking, accepted the quotation and advised all the people in the party due to travel of agreed timings and costs. Four days later the company cancelled and said they were fully booked. No apology or reason given.