Council leaders have condemned “disgusting” arsonists who torched dozens of vehicles at the weekend, including 13 minibuses used to transport vulnerable children and adults. All 14 school routes run by charity Four Towns and Vale Link Community Transport were running as normal again today (Tuesday, April 5) despite the attacks in the early hours of Sunday which left a trail of destruction in Stoke Gifford, Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Little Stoke.
Twenty cars and vans were set alight at the Rolls Royce site in Filton, while almost 40 vehicles in total were damaged, with half of Four Towns’ fleet destroyed. South Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Toby Savage condemned the culprits at a cabinet meeting on Monday.
He said: “I have spoken this morning with Mark Shelford, the police and crime commissioner, around this mindless criminality and there is an ongoing investigation that the police have in hand to identify the perpetrators. One of the victims of that criminal offence was Four Towns community transport group which had 13 minibuses suffer that arson attack.
Read more: Rolls Royce Filton attack: 'E-scooter' arsonist torched vital community minibuses
“These are vehicles that are used on South Gloucestershire Council school transport contracts, as well as providing transport services for the wider community, and as a result of that a number of those transport routes have not run today. We are working closely with Four Towns to get transport back up and running again as soon as possible and our transport team is working closely with the affected schools and parents.
“We are of course working on assistance and help we might be able to provide to Four Towns in the medium term.” Cabinet member for transport Cllr Steve Reade told the meeting: “I would like to register my absolute disgust at this mindless act. There are no words. Totally disgusting.”
A council spokesperson said: “Sadly, 13 vehicles operated by local community transport provider Four Towns have been destroyed by fire over the weekend. Four Towns provide a valuable and important transport option in our local communities, including operating 14 school transport routes on behalf of the council.”
They said all the routes would be covered from Tuesday (April 5), adding: “We are looking at how we can provide support and assistance to help Four Towns through this challenging period." Police are yet to make any arrests and are appealing for anyone with information about the attacks between 1.30am and 5.30am to contact them on 101 quoting log number 124 of Sunday, April 3.
