Parents ‘flabbergasted’ as bus services for pupils to be scrapped

NLC has put a plan in place to scrap the free travel for children who live further than three miles from their catchment school. 

The move – which will come into place as of August 2024 - will mean that children who cannot get a lift to school or use public transport (as there is none that takes them as far as the school gates), will have to walk up to six miles a day to and from school.

Now, parents who have children at St. Ambrose High School in Coatbridge have spoken out, labelling the decision as ‘discriminatory’ and an ‘accident waiting to happen’. 

Marc Feeney told the Glasgow Times: “I was immediately appalled at what the council were doing. 

“I think it is a bit much to ask kids to walk six miles a day – we are not a third-world country, and this is Coatbridge, not California, think of all the snow, rain and ice we get. 

“This decision from the council is going to affect 100s upon 100s of people. 

“I understand they have to save money, but this is not the way to do it. 

“This is an accident waiting to happen and is discriminatory to those who have a less disposable income.” 

Another parent, Marissa Cloughley, said that she doesn’t think the council have thought through the ‘dangerous’ plan. 

The 47-year-old added: “I have a lot of anger and disappointment that the council would do this. 

“They are essentially saying that it is okay to risk children’s safety for budget cuts. I really thought more of the council than this. 

“It is so dangerous walking six miles a day – it doesn’t seem right.” 

From August 2025, any primary pupil who lives more than two miles from their catchment school will also lose out on the service. 

The council have mapped out two safe walking routes for pupils to get to school, but Marc and Marissa have said these involve walking beside a dual carriageway as well as a canal. 

Marissa explained: “The council proposed two safe walking routes – one is along a dual carriageway which has no barriers at some parts and the other is the Monklands Canal, where there is no lighting and is a body of water.

“I was flabbergasted when the council came back and said they had the routes assessed and they were deemed safe. 

“If the council walked the route themselves, I’m sure they wouldn’t deem it safe. 

“The whole thing seems ridiculous; these kids are just little people – it’s so wrong.” 

Marc added: “The council have said that the walking routes are safe, but they expect a child to go with their parent, which means parents are losing four hours of their day to walk their child to and from school.

“I’m self-employed so those four hours are half my income. Imagine if parents have to start cutting down hours. How will employers take that?” 

Dozens of parents and children walked from their estates to St. Ambrose on Thursday morning via one of the proposed safe walking routes. 

The action came as one of the first protests to the move. 

Speaking on the action, Marissa said: “With this action, we want to let the council know that we are not going to accept this move. 

“We are going to protest and exhaust every avenue and just try everything we can to save our buses. 

“I just hope the council take notice.” 

The group plans to protest again at the end of March. 

A council spokesperson said: "Until this year, North Lanarkshire Council has provided free school bus travel at distance levels which are higher than almost all other councils in Scotland and more than what is required by law.

"School transport costs have increased by 52% since 2021/22 with the current annual cost to transport a single pupil to and from school being £1,305, which is an 8.5% rise on last year’s figure and with total school transport costing the council around £120,000 daily.

"The changes we are introducing were agreed as part of the budget-setting process last year and will move the council to a position adopted by most other local authorities in Scotland, make school travel more cost effective and reliable while also promoting the benefits of active lifestyles within communities.

"A comprehensive programme of safe walking route assessments has been carried out by independent infrastructure specialists over the last six months and information has been provided to families and there is the availability to request a review of individual circumstances.”