Councillor hits out at axed school buses 16/9/14
► School bus cuts anger parents
► Council mess up school passes
Parents have been left in ‘distress’ and ‘very disappointed’ by lack of communication as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar axe school bus services it is claimed.
Changes in the provision of school transport for children from the Bakers Road, Benside and Newvalley area of Lewis to the Nicolson Institute were agreed on in April this year.
But parents were not informed of the decision until immediately before school started – and now fear for the safety of their children on the walking routes available.
In an open letter to Comhairle leader Angus Campbell, SNP Cllr Gordon Murray said: “Changes of the bus routes had only been notified to parents late last week just before the terms starts adding to the anxiety of some parents, why it took so long has not been explained.”
Cllr Murray highlights the minutes of the Comhairle’s Education Committee on April
15th 2014 which state the introduction of a revised Home to School Travel Policy,
specifically the axing of three bus services to Laxdale Primary and The Nicolson,
as part of the Budget Strategy 2013-
It adds that changes are: “Subject to all required road safety and traffic management improvements being implemented.”
Cllr Murray continues: “The decision of council is unambiguous that no changes would be made until all road safety measures were in place.
“This has not happened and yet, the bus changes have taken place. As a local councillor the fact that the walking route for children was to be made safe was of great comfort especially to parents.”
He demanded: “Why has your administration not enacted the minute of the council meeting referenced above thus causing anxiety and distress to parents and children as well as placing the children in a dangerous position.”
In response the Comhairle maintained there is a safe route to the distant alternative bus stop on the main road.
A Comhairle spokesman cited a report which went before councillors in February this year.
The report states: “As part of the consideration of Laxdale School traffic management issues, technical services has again looked at the walking routes to school and have identified a number of desirable localised infrastructure improvements.
“It is important to note that these improvements are not considered essential; the localised issues would not prevent the safe walking to school were school pupils to be accompanied by an adult or be regarded as competent to ensure their own safety.”
The spokesman said: “This is consistent with the Comhairle’s decision that bus services only be discontinued once all required road safety and traffic management improvements had been undertaken.”
► School bus cuts anger parents
► Council mess up school passes