Haud the bus..
One-metre rule could leave school pupils standing in street
TRANSPORT chiefs have warned a return to full-time schooling next month could risk pupil safety.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) claimed social distancing may lead to children being left at bus stops.
They also suggested relaxing the two-mete rule would still make running a full school transport service “unachievable”.
Education Secretary John
Swinney is committed to full-time schooling in August after dumping his plan for learning to be split between the classroom and home, and ruling that there will be no physical distancing between children.
However, for the wider population, the two-metre restriction is still the default position, while for public transport, Ministers have said the limit will be reduced to one metre.
SPT administers school transport for 11 councils in the west of Scotland and arranges contracts worth £27million a year.
In a letter on July 2, SPT head of bus strategy & delivery Gordon Dickson wrote: “I wish to emphasise SPT’s significant concerns about the challenging transport impacts of the decision that all school pupils will return to school from August 11, specifically in relation to the logistical and safety challenges for travel and funding implications of this decision.”
On dedicated school transport services, he warned: “While any change towards a ‘one-metre plus’ distancing rule would assist to some extent, the impact on vehicle requirements would still be substantial, and would most likely still be unachievable.”
Dickson wrote that even with a one-metre plus rule,
buses would reach capacity when about 40 per cent full, meaning some pupils would not be able to get on.
Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray said: “Once again, we are seeing the consequences of the SNP Government’s complete failure to plan ahead in this education crisis.” But a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Guidance for return to school which will include school transport is currently being developed, based on the latest scientific advice as to what physical distancing or other measures are required to protect pupils, drivers and other passengers.”