PEOPLE POWER
Public outcry sees the plug pulled on school bus cuts
People power has forced the council to scrap controversial plans to slash school transport provision. Parents, grandparents and carers inundated the authority with more than 1500 submissions in response to a consultation on proposals to cut links.
And today – one minute after time ran out for voices to be heard over the bid to change the criteria for free bus travel from one to two miles’ walking distance for primary school children and two to three miles for secondary pupils – the Labour administration conceded that the unpopular plan they had backed would not be implemented.
Due to the strength of feeling over the proposed cost-cutting measure, education convener Frank McNally, who had used his casting vote to force through the School Transport Consultation, did a U-turn and announced the bid to cut transport will now be scrapped.
The statement said that having listened to the public’s concerns, the minority administration has decided that they are not making any changes to transport eligibility.
Councillor McNally emphasised the decision may have an effect on other areas of the education budget as the council continues to face a £22 million cut from the Scottish Government.
He said: “Over the last several months Labour councillors, including myself, have attended public meetings, and been contacted by parents and others regarding proposals to amend the current criteria for school pupil transport in North Lanarkshire.
“That consultation has come to a close and throughout this period we have listened to the legitimate concerns being raised.
“Given the scale of the draconian, disproportionate cuts being handed down to North Lanarkshire from the Scottish Government it has sadly been necessary to explore all areas of service provision.
“Councillors take absolutely no pleasure in doing this. However, parents, guardians and young people have made their thoughts known and their voices heard.
“The Labour administration has listened and has taken the decision not to support any change to the existing school pupil transport criteria for the duration of the council term.
“Parents have also raised concerns about the Scottish Government’s outdated guidance on this matter.
“Therefore, I have today written to Scottish Ministers and encouraged them to review current legislation to enshrine one mile for primary and two mile for secondary into statute.”
The 1500 submissions received by the council on the eve of the consultation process’s closure did not include 8600 signatures on an online petition opposing the plans.
Both the SNP and Conservatives opposed the proposals and protests were staged outside a number of public meetings during the 12- week consultation period during which parents expressed concerns that the changes would put pupils’ safety in jeopardy.
Martin O’Brien, from Wishawhill, whose eight-year-old grandson, Jayden, attends St Thomas’s Primary School, was among those who protested outside Clyde Valley High where a heated meeting about the issue was held in November.
He said: “The biggest thing raised during the meeting was safety – it came up time and time again.”
Councillor Agnes Magowan, who received more than 100 emails regarding the proposed changes to school bus arrangements, was among those who said she had “extreme safety concerns”.
MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw Clare Adamson said: “Children’s safety is paramount.” Speaking as both a mum and councillor for Wishaw, Fiona Fotheringham, left, s said she had received hundreds of emails o opposing the changes.
In addition to the safety worries, other areas of concern raised by campaigners included greater congestion, impact on e employment or employability, impact on child health and wellbeing, fears that the attainment gap would widen, cost and availability of clothing and footwear, increased stress and pressure on parents and children, and recruitment problems attracting additional school crossing p patrollers.
SNP business manager Allan Stubbs s said with 4500 people directly affected by the proposed changes, 1500 submissions reflected massive opposition to the plan.
Conservative councillor for Wishaw Bob Burgess said that 100 per cent of the parents he spoke to were against the plan.