South Lanarkshire Council boss warns rising fuel costs could affect school buses

Parents are going to be asked next week about their views on upping the qualifying distance for secondary schools to three miles.

Author: Callum McQuadePublished 10th Jan 2024

The boss of South Lanarkshire Council is telling us they're struggling to keep on top of rising costs of running school buses for pupils.

From next week parents will be asked about putting up the qualifying distance for secondary school mainstream transport to three miles.

Joe Fagan told Clyde 1: "The council's budget for school transport is overspent by something like £4m and we have to explore options for bringing the cost of this under control.

"I would really like to maintain the current level of service, but soaring prices tied with a lack of funding means we have to look at alternatives."

The change would bring the local authority's policy in line with other councils across Scotland.

Colin Richardson's son will start at Calderside Academy in August and he says it could mean they no longer qualify for him to catch a bus and he would have to walk over 2 miles.

He told Clyde 1: "I trust my son but I don't want him walking long distances and doing unfamiliar routes.

"It would also make his day much longer because he still has homework to do once he is back in the door.

"I estimate that he would need to leave the house around 7.30 in the morning just to get to class which would be awful in the cold winter months."

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