School buses axed

Children currently using the pay-and-go transport won't be able to after the school term finishes in June.

Withdrawal of the facility was announced at East Renfrewshire council's budget meeting when the resource was described as "heavily-subsidised and little-used".

But some parents say ERC has not done enough to promote the bus service to families.

Kenny Dickson (37), who has two girls at Carolside primary, told The Extra: "It seems the approach to tackling the current untenable costs is completely wrong.

"Why doesn't ERC consider redesigning it in order to make it economically viable?

"If a group of parents successfully runs a school bus for St Ninian's high school why is the council with the resources it has unable to"?

And fellow parent Greg Bowes, with a child at Our Lady of the Mission primary, agreed.

He said: "My wife and I found the system quite confusing to begin with. Perhaps a better answer to the low uptake may be to be more proactive in encouraging uptake of the buses.

"Has the council considered the increase of traffic this will surely cause on the roads around our children's schools in the mornings and evenings?

"Environmentally, buses are a much better solution to local pollution, noise, traffic and road damage than an increase in car traffic.

"Perhaps multiple-children discounts may increase uptake of the service and if well-planned would decrease subsidy and justify the service".

Elizabeth McHaffie's daughter attends St Cadoc's.

The 35-year-old mum said: "The council has not even told all the parents —only the ones using the service.

"I don't think this is right as it is going to affect all of us because of an increase in traffic".

A spokesman for ERC said: "Councillors reluctantly took the decision as the council simply can't afford to subsidise it.

"The stark choice is either to run this service or to dispense with the services of three classroom teachers.

"Parents have not used the buses in sufficient numbers over the four years we have run them.

"The long lead-in timescale gives us an opportunity to work with bus operators to find alternatives. We are not leaving anyone high and dry".