Pupils’ face two mile slog in dark winter weather to school 4/2/14
Young children would be forced to walk up to two miles to school in all weathers
under a Comhairle policy to save money.
The council is axing all buses for Laxdale School pupils from this summer.
But there is no alternative public service transport so the 120 children presently
going by bus face a long, bleak, trek - particularly in harsh winter weather - on
routes which are often ungritted.
Last year, the council changed the free school travel rules to make children walk
an extra mile between their home and school each day.
In other districts, children can pay to use a public service bus with the second
and third child in the same family getting a discount fare.
However, the council does not plan for this to happen in Laxdale. There is no service
bus timetabled for the start of daily classes and the council has no intention to
provide one.
Only eight pupils using the bus live outwith the two miles limit and will continue
to be eligible for free transport though it is unclear how the council will provide
this.
Cllr Roddie Mackay accused the Comhairle of “discrimination”against Laxdale School.
At today’s education committee Mr Mackay was angry that the council introduced a
policy which “affects only Laxdale.”
He pointed out there will be “no bus provided whatsoever. (Children) have no choice.”
He was astounded that the second largest primary school in the islands “gets no
transport at all” - not even with the option to pay if required.
Mr Mackay criticised the “extreme move” as unacceptable.
Education chairperson Catriona Stewart highlighted councillors had voted through
the school travel policy and the consequences of no buses for Laxdale are simply
the result of it being implemented.
Cllr Roddie Mackay retorted: “That policy was about free (school) transport - at
the moment we are talking about no transport.”
Cllr Iain Macaulay said there was a lack of lamp-posts on routes to the school so
“children will not only not be walking on pavements but will also be walking in the
dark.”
Council officials said there are plans to provide footways - not paths - along verges
at a cost of £150,000 while the issue of street-lights was “not a show-stopper.”
At present, there are three buses serving the school. One covers the Newmarket area
and another for Newvalley. The third collects pupils from the Cearns and Stewart
Drive areas.
In a separate development, traffic lights will be installed by the school this April
in a bid to end the long rush hour queuing for cars at the single lane Laxdale Bridge.
However, the prospect of an influx of about 50 extra cars if more parents clog the
roadways by driving their bus-less children to school risks chaos.
A council report warns it “will have a very significant impact” for traffic.