North Lanarkshire Council U-turns on primary school buses
The original decision was met with a huge backlash from parents.
North Lanarkshire Council has announced it is planning to a reverse a decision to cut school buses for primary school children.
Earlier this year, the local authority decided to change the mileage limits for primary school children to the legal maximum.
It would have left children living two miles or less away from the classroom having to make their own arrangements instead of living more than one mile away.
Councillor Jim Logue, leader of the Labour administration at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “We asked the SNP Government on numerous occasions to either change the legal limits or provide funding to keep North Lanarkshire’s limits as they are, but this plea fell on deaf ears.
“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.
"I’m glad we are able to do so.
"It means North Lanarkshire’s free primary school transport will be at a level more generous than almost every other council in Scotland."
The decision sparked outrage among parents who staged a protest earlier this month.
They argued they would be forced to change their hours at work to make sure their children got to and from the classroom safely every day.
Jim added: "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.
“The SNP Government has to now consider how it funds councils especially since they have received an additional £3.4 billion as a result of the recent Autumn Statement.
" I would certainly urge them to do so."
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