Anger over school bus fire drama
COUNCIL bosses have launched an investigation after a fire broke out on a school bus yesterday morning.
The blaze started at the rear of the coach, which was heading to West Calder High School, West Lothian, after collecting pupils in Livingston.
The driver pulled over on the A71 near Polbeth. Children were ushered off the bus and 999 was called.
The ensuing blaze gutted the vehicle, leaving pupils and parents who arrived at the scene in shock.
The bus is owned by E & M Horsburgh, which has been accused by parents of putting boneshaker buses on the road.
One dad told the Record: “I got a call to say there had been a fire.
“This firm’s fleet of buses is a disgrace. It has been well documented that they have leaky roofs, mouldy seats and clapped-out engines that can barely get up hills.
“They need to get taken off the road and the education authority needs to get safe vehicles to take our kids to school.”
A West Lothian Council spokesman said: “We understand from the bus BY MARK McGIVERN Chief Reporter operator that the bus driver noticed smoke from the rear of the vehicle and pulled over as a precaution, allowing the pupils to depart the bus unharmed.
“Pupils were picked up shortly afterwards by another bus and taken to school.
“We’ve asked the bus operator to provide us with further details. Council officers visited the site this morning and will work with the operator to progress with an investigation.” The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there were no casualties. A woman who answered the phone at E & M Horsburgh said it was too early to know what had caused the blaze. In December, outraged parents accused the firm of using freezing vehicles with windows missing. Mum Johan Milne said of the service between Winchburgh and Linlithgow Academy: “One day, a child opened a window and it came off – the next day there was just no window. “In the doubledecker, there is no heating and it’s absolutely Baltic. “The seats are wet and they’re sitting on mouldy, wet seats.”