Bus 'chaos' causes back to school blues
CHAOS reigned on school buses as the new term began this week.
As previously reported, East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) has cut the entitlement for free school transport for both secondary and primary pupils and introduced a "pay as you go" system for those who no longer qualify for free travel.
However, travel passes failed to be issued and as schools went back on Monday, many parents were unsure if their children qualified or not to board and in the case of primary children, staff did not know which of them should be going home on the buses for lack of information.
Bearsden mum Lucy Hartley told the Herald: "Staff — even headteachers on the first day back at school had to ring round parents from 2.30pm to find out if their children should be on the bus home.
"Parents entitled to free transport had still not been notified and passes have not been issued, my understanding is due to accounting procedures at either SPT or EDC not being finalised.
"I believe some families have been told their walking route is unsafe but no alternative route or provision has been finalised."
Jo Swinson MP said: "I am deeply disappointed that we have come to a situation where parents face a choice between paying expensive bus fares, driving their children to school or fearing for their safety as they walk long distances to school.
"This week I have already seen the problems caused by the new "pay as you go" system — many of the buses were nearly empty, while there are more cars on the roads around the schools."
Mrs Hartley added: "Schools are now having to seek and record parental permission for all children travelling by bus, however infrequently, creating further work to be done on EDC time by staff — incurring further administration costs.
"Lots of time, money and energy wasted when schools and students should be settling in to the new session and the curriculum for excellence."
This scenario seems to bear out what was predicted by councillors who opposed the changes brought in by the Labour/Tory administration as a budgetary cut in February of this year.
A bid to overturn the decision will be made this month amid claims that the changes will actually cost the council more than had the status quo been maintained.
A spokesman for the council said: "Unfortunately, at the beginning of any academic year there will be teething problems. We can confirm that SPT are checking what happened with the information given to contractors and are also checking their lists.
"Bus passes are issued by the contractors via the schools and it is hoped that any child who has not yet received their pass will do so by tomorrow."
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Weather for Milngavie
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
