MONMOUTHSHIRE council twice sent out letters to parents of children with special educational needs who had their transport withdrawn by the authority - but had to phone the parents when the letters didn’t turn up.

The authority admitted they had to phone parents who they assumed had been notified of the change in the week beginning August 29 after they said they sent out letters on August 6.

Later, when parents were told they could appeal the authority’s decision and could meet officers, letters were again sent on September 23.

But when the council had no responses to them an officer had again to take to ringing individual parents.

Some meetings with parents of the 32 children whose applications were turned down have since taken place - but some are still waiting for them to be scheduled.

Thornwell councillor Armand Watts, who is working with a number of families to resolve their issues with the council, said: “The communications (the council) claim to have had is clearly not fit for purpose.

“If I was one of the panel deciding whether Monmouthshire county council could come out of special measures, I would have to say they’ve got worse.”

And a council spokesman admitted they had work to do.

He said: “The council acknowledges that discussions have indicated ways of improving communications.

“The council has taken on board many of these suggestions and hopes that the revised process will bring improved results.”

Kate Kronenbach, who is a member of the FACT (Families Against Cuts to Transport) group, said taking her daughter to school was becoming “very difficult”.

Monmouthshire council said parents who have appealed the decision will have a resolution by October 17.