A COUNCIL run by Scottish Labour has reversed its decision on cuts to school buses after a campaign gathered more than 600 signatures.
North Lanarkshire Council previously announced cuts to primary school bus routes for 2025 which would have reduced the eligibility for school buses by increasing the distance children have to be from their school from one mile to two.
However, cuts to secondary school buses will remain in place, meaning pupils’ eligibility will change from two miles to three.
The U-turn was announced in a statement from North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue on Tuesday morning.
The Scottish Labour councillor said that he would propose a motion to formalise the decision "at the earliest possible opportunity."
“Despite the dire financial circumstances faced by all councils, we have been able to find a financially balanced way to keep our current primary school limits,” Logue (below) said.
"It means North Lanarkshire’s free primary school transport will be at a level more generous than almost every other council in Scotland.
"We know that this will come as a relief to parents, and it was important to us to try to find a solution for the youngest school pupils.
“I will be moving the required motion to formalise our decision at the earliest possible opportunity and I would urge all political parties to unite behind it for the benefit of all young people."
'Still work to do'
The move has been welcomed by the Scottish Greens, as the party’s MSP for Central Scotland Gillian Mackay said she was “delighted” by the reversal.
Mackay led a campaign which called on North Lanarkshire Council to save school buses, gathering nearly 700 signatures from concerned families and teachers across the region.
Mackay (below) said: “I'm delighted that North Lanarkshire Council have finally stopped their cuts to school buses for primary school kids.
“These proposed cuts would have put children's safety at risk by packing more cars onto the already crowded streets around school grounds.
“Our campaign brought parents and teachers from across North Lanarkshire together to stand against these brutal Labour cuts. The determination from parents and pupils has been inspiring.
“I was delighted to host them in Holyrood for my member’s debate on this issue only a couple of weeks ago.”
However, Mackay added that there was “still work to do”, as the U-turn will not include secondary schools in North Lanarkshire.
She said: “There is obviously still work to do on the impact of the increase of the limit on secondary school pupils, and I will continue to work with parents and schools on this issue.”
The council’s SNP group also welcomed the decision, saying members were “delighted to hear that the Labour administration has finally seen sense”.
A spokesperson for the group added: “This Labour administration could have supported the many fully costed options presented by the SNP group at committee and full council over the last few years, but they chose not to and in turn caused parents and guardians great anguish.
“Questions will have to be asked about why councillor Logue has only now bowed to mounting strains from within his own group after remaining so adamant that changing the distances for transport eligibility was the correct decision.
“We hope that this change of heart will also mean that there will be a reconsideration of the changes to secondary schools criteria.”
The group also expressed disappointment that the announcement was made to the media before councillors were told.
“Just like the previous (welcome) dramatic U-turn on active and creative communities, it is very disrespectful to make this announcement via the press,” a spokesperson added.
We told how Labour council chiefs U-turned on a plan to close dozens of sports and leisure centres in North Lanarkshire last year following a huge outcry.
