Essex County Council has assured the Guardian that it will not ignore the voices of hundreds of young people in the district who are calling for improvements to the bus network.

Members of Epping Forest Youth Council, Jaymey McIvor and Aaron Williams, recently began a campaign to make transport providers aware of the plight of young people being constantly held up b y buses.

A spokeswoman for Essex County Council said that they intend to take the matter seriously after receiving a letter from the duo.

She said: “We welcome the youth council’s letter regarding bus services in the Epping Forest District, and have offered to meet with the group to discuss further the issues they have raised.

“Although we have no statutory powers over the 85 per cent of commercial services run across the county, we do have regular meetings with bus operators to discuss operational issues.

“We will be happy to discuss the comments raised by the youth council at these meetings and try to help facilitate engagement between both parties.”
Member of Youth Parliament Jaymey McIvor, 15, and Epping Forest Youth Councillor Aaron Williams, both 15, organised the campaign after finding that they, and their peers, were too often being left waiting.

Problematic bus routes identified in a survey of 771 secondary school children included the number 20 bus between Buckhurst Hill and Loughton and the 167 bus between Debden and Ilford.

Member of Youth Parliament, Jaymey McIvor of North Weald High Road, says that during his year in office he plans to do everything within his power to ensure that buses run on time and that timetables are updated.