Dozens protest as council propose to limit school bus services

Dozens of parents and youngsters protested outside the council headquarters in Hamilton this morning as their fight to have the proposal overturned continues. 

We previously reported that the proposal, which was first put forward in 2016 but was later scrapped, is looking to change the travel radius for free school buses from within two to three miles to students living three or more miles from their catchment school.

This means pupils across the council area will miss out on a free and safe way to travel to school, according to the protesters. 

Yvonne Reilly, parent and Drumsagard resident, said: “We are here today to raise awareness of the cuts the council are looking to make and the impact it is going to have on families. 

“After today I hope the council will sit up and take notice of us and actually realise that we are not going to lie down and take this. We are going to fight it as far as we can.” 

Jennifer Davies, who has children at Calderside Academy in Blantyre, added: “The proposal will have a huge effect on our children, and we have concerns for their safety as well as their education being impacted. 

“Without the buses, it is going to take our children 50 minutes to walk to and from school every day. When you look at winter nights too, that’s a big concern.”

Families have attempted to overturn the proposal via demonstrations, petitions and protest marches along the safe walking routes which have been put forward by the council. 

Parents have said the routes include unlit and unpaved streets and parks, as well as run-ins with heavy traffic flow, ditches, and a riverbank. It has also been said that the council have not yet walked the routes themselves. 

During a walk from Drumsagard to Cathkin High School on Saturday, a young girl had to stop to use her inhaler as she struggled with the journey and on a walk to Calderside Academy, items like broken glass and wigs were found on the pavements. 

Councillor Julia Mars said: “I am very much against the proposal. I’m concerned for the safety of young people walking to school up to 30 miles a week which is unacceptable, and I am very disappointed that we are here again. 

“For young people, their learning is of paramount importance and this proposal can only have a negative impact.”

MSP Clare Hockey added: “We’re talking about kids walking potentially 30 miles a week to and from school in all weathers, with school equipment. 

“It is an unsafe, unthought-through through and ill-conceived plan. It’s got to be scrapped.” 

The Executive Committee at the council recently approved a statutory consultation on the matter, which started on January 15.

Following an extension requested by some parents, it has now been changed to March 15. 

Carole McKenzie, executive director of education resources at the council, said: "The Executive Committee approved a statutory consultation on this matter, which started on January 15 and, following an extension requested by some parents, will run until March 15.

"The options to consider are whether to continue providing the current level of service, or a service that is more in keeping with the rest of Scotland and more in line with our statutory levels of service provision.

"Pressures on the budget for education, and indeed the wider council budget, mean we have to consider all options. This is a result of severe financial constraints on the service.

"If we do proceed with this proposal, it means that the impact of budget cuts that directly affect pupils' learning and classroom resources can be lessened.

"I understand that this proposal may cause some anxiety as we move forward with the consultation. It is important that everyone's views are listened to, and that is the purpose of the consultation."

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