Council shies away from schools’ request to tweak bus services

THE Otago Regional Council has refused to tweak bus routes and timetables to accommodate three Dunedin schools, after they announced they were ending a chartered school service next term.

Tahuna Normal Intermediate, King’s High School and Queen’s High School have offered the service for its pupils since the start of term after the Otago Regional Council withdrew from school services last year.

At a council meeting yesterday, Tahuna principal Tony Hunter said the schools would be ending the chartered bus service next term because of high costs.

The schools requested the regional council tweak public timetables and routes to make it safer for the children who would otherwise have to cross busy roads.

The council moved on whether to investigate this, but councillors voted against it.

Mr Hunter said the schools were not asking for a dedicated school bus service.

‘‘We’re asking for a public service that meets the needs of our commuters.

‘‘We would like the council to investigate alternate bus routes that would provide a reasonable and safe service.

‘‘If pupils all got in cars, there will be a lot more traffic on the road.’’

Council corporate services director Nick Donnelly said its policy clearly stated it was withdrawing from school bus services, but that did not mean its public service should not accommodate pupils.

ORC chairman Cr Stephen Woodhead said what the schools were seeking was a dedicated school service.

‘‘We helped out at the end of 2017 by allowing time for them to put something in place.’’

The charter system was $12 a week dearer per pupil than the public system, he said.

‘‘I would have thought that if child safety is that much of an issue, that’s a reasonably small price to pay.

‘‘I’m really cautious about making any changes that have an impact on the wider network here.’’

Cr Michael Deaker said there would be nothing stopping other schools demanding route and timetable changes if the council passed the resolution.

‘‘It would just be a very difficult issue for us as a council. We should stay firmly with our position.’’

Cr Michael Laws said it was ‘‘quite clever’’ for the principal to reference pupils as ‘‘commuters’’.

Cr Sam Neill said the council had the obligation to offer the best possible services to everyone, including pupils.

‘‘I don’t think that was clever or playing with words saying these kids are bus customers, they are commuters.’’

Cr Andrew Noone said he agreed with the schools that the bus service needed to accommodate them.

‘‘I don’t think we should get hung up on the fact that they’re school children. It’s about providing a level of service across the city that’s efficient and direct. I think we need to be a little more nimble so we can tweak things along the way if required.’’

Cr Graeme Bell said said he supported the comments of Crs Neill and Noone.

‘‘We need to deliver a community bus service.’’

❛ I’m really cautious about making any changes that have an impact on the wider network here ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead