East Ayrshire parents concerned about pupil safety as subsidised bus travel set to end
They have raised concerns about poor lighting and a lack of pavements on the routes to Kilmarnock Academy
Subsidised school buses will stop at the end of the current school year, as councillors backed the plan despite concerns about safe walking and cycling routes.
East Ayrshire Council cabinet approved the move on Wednesday, following some heated words over the safety of walking routes for pupils.
The subsidised transport scheme was the only one of its type in Scotland, but was putting increased financial pressure on the council, with income far less than the cost of putting on buses.
There will be a focus on improving walking routes, while many pupils are able to use free bus passes to get to schools.
"Really disappointed Stagecoach hasn't seen this as a viable option"
The report had suggested that the end date should be April, around the Easter holidays, however a number of councillors pointed out that this would coincide with exams.
Councillor Elaine Cowan said that, when approving a pilot scheme earlier this year, the date had been changed to avoid the exam period.
The biggest issue around the proposals was the safety of the walking routes that pupils would take.
Cllr Cowan also said that safety was key to her support, pointing out concerns around crossing Glasgow Road, along with improvements to footpaths.
“I think the date needs to be seriously considered because the last thing you want is any disruption during the exam timetable.
“I think we’re all really disappointed that Stagecoach haven’t seen this as a viable option because I thought we had a a solution there.
"I'm anxious crossing that road as an adult"
She asked whether there was scope for retaining one of the existing subsidised routes.
Both Cllr Cowan and depute leader Jim McMahon homed in on the safety aspects of active travel routes, either cycling or walking, used by pupils and insisted they should be talking about ‘safe active travel’.
“The lack of a pedestrian crossing on the Glasgow Road is a red line for me.
“I’m anxious crossing that road as an adult so I think we really need that crossing there.
“I know that on the boundary of my ward part on that same road there’s a missing bit of pavement.
“Both of those items need to be in place before any changes are implemented.”
Labour depute group leader, Councillor Barry Douglas, said he had also raised the missing footpath and had been given assurances that the work would go ahead.
"I don't think it's safe to have anybody crossing that road"
“It is important that is crucial particularly if there is future house building as is already been proposed in the east side of Glasgow road that that gap is completed.
“Thirty years ago, it was in the countryside. Today it’s very much in the urban heart of the town and it’s key.
“I don’t think it’s safe to have anybody crossing that road twice, children or adults to be honest.”
Parent representative Jackie Livingstone agreed that the implementation dates and roadworks were at the forefront of parents’ minds.
“Can we have today a guarantee of the date of when the roadworks on Glasgow Road will be completed. Because get told that it would done by the end of the financial year isn’t good enough.
"They're taking their life in their hands"
“I can watch the children trying to cross the road and there’s roadworks at the moment. They’re taking their life in their hands.”
Chair of the Parent Council at Kilmarnock Academy, Stephen Coyle, said: "The concerns from parents have been going on for approximately two years since this was first proposed to cabinet, and to date we’ve still not actually seen or had built any safe walking routes from the north of Kilmarnock.
"Although the council says they are going to implement this before the end of the pilot, there are still areas of great concern.”
Labour group leader, Councillor Maureen McKay told the meeting that the plans did not sufficiently address the safety concerns.
"There are still areas of great concern"
She argued that the subsidised service was brought in due to concerns about safety.
Cllr McKay said she felt those issues were not fully addressed in the current plan, adding that the number of pupils and level of traffic in the north of Kilmarnock would increase with new homes being built in the area.
She tabled an amendment to retain the subsidised transport scheme.
The motion was approved by 11 votes to three, with both the parents’ and teachers’ representatives in favour of the report.