Labour-run Council Forced into School Bus U-Turn by Green MSP
Labour-run North Lanarkshire Council has been forced to reverse its disastrous decision to cut school buses from a Scottish Green-led campaign with local parents, teachers, and students.
The proposed cuts would have reduced the eligibility for school buses by increasing the distance children have to be from their school from one mile to two at primary school.
Families and teachers from right across the region have already spoken out against this decision. Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay led a campaign which gathered nearly 700 signatures, calling on North Lanarkshire Council to save school buses.
Scottish Greens Central Scotland MSP Gillian Mackay 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.”
The U-turn from the council will not include secondary schools in North Lanarkshire, which, under current proposals, will still see the eligible change from two miles to three, affecting hundreds of students.
Ms Mackay added:
"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."