Pupils could lose free bus passes in council shake-up

Thousands of pupils could lose their free bus passes in a cost-cutting move by a Scottish council.

Fife Council members have been asked to consider rail travel for some pupils, including those in Burntisland, Kinghorn and Cardenden. They are also to consider increasing the distance children must live from their school before they are eligible for travel, a move which could affect thousands of youngsters.

And others who live with- in a mile or two miles of their school could lose free entitlement under an assessment which has found many routes historically deemed unsuitable for walking are now said to be safe.

The changes, which are expected to meet resistance from parents, have been proposed by education officers to create equity of provision and to save money.

A report will be presented to councillors today by Shelagh Mclean, head of education and children’s services, and Gary Moyes, travel and transportation category manager.

It states: “Any change to transport provision will not be popular.

“However, it is important to ensure resources are focused on pupils’ learning and preparation for life beyond school.”

Out of almost 50,000 schoolchildren in the region, nearly 11,000 are entitled to free transport and around 2,400 pay to travel by bus.

However, Fife’s policy of providing free transport for pupils who live more than a mile from their local primary school or two miles from their secondary school is more generous than the legal requirement. If distances were increased to two miles for primary pupils and three miles for secondary, more than 3,800 pupils would lose free passes.

More than 800 pupils who live close to their schools but on a route historically deemed unsuitable for walking could lose their entitlement as a review has deemed they could now safely walk.

The report also suggested the council should consider ending contracts for additional buses for fare-paying pupils, which are provided only at some schools.