School bus fury

Published 31 Aug 2010 10:00

PRIMARY pupils in Cardross are walking to school while their bus passes them by - empty.

As part of a cost-cutting move by Argyll and Bute Council, the free service for children living within two miles of the school was axed, and now parents have to stump up £60 each term if they want their kids to get the bus.

One angry mum from Cardross’ Bainfield Estate said: “My daughter - and other children on the estate - were picked up previously by a school bus and driven to school.

“Due to budget cuts, Argyll and Bute Council has removed this free service - or so we thought.

“On my daughter’s first day back at school, we saw the bus parked at the school.

“I just assumed it was still picking kids up from the outlying areas.

“It turns out that the bus company has a contract with the council until June or July 2011.

“The bus driver apparently drove around Bainfield looking for kids to pick up, but none of the kids were there.”

She continued: “How is that saving money?”

But a council spokesman has defended the move and stressed that charging for the service has led to “considerable” savings.

He added: “The location of the contractor’s garage at Rhu means that in the morning the vehicle has to return to Rhu from Dumbarton, and in doing so again passes the access to the Bainfield Estate.

“In the afternoon the reverse applies.

“This contract has a further year to run, and cannot be altered without significant cost to the council.

“Privilege seats are available on this bus to any Cardross Primary pupil who is no longer eligible for free school transport.

“To date, only one parent has paid for such a seat, but other parents have the option to apply if they wish.”

Concerns that the “paid option” is too much for many to pay in a lump sum, especially when they have just bought new school uniforms and equipment, have now been addressed by the council.

Parents who find it hard to get their hands on the cash up front are being offered the option of paying for the service monthly and real hardship cases can apply to the council for help.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 31 Aug 10

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