Parents fighting against planned cuts to North Lanarkshire school transport are planning a public meeting as they continue their campaign.
Bargeddie families whose youngsters could face a three-mile walk to catchment secondaries St Ambrose and Coatbridge High when the current buses are withdrawn after the summer have arranged the latest event to show their opposition to the plans and a pedestrian route they describe as “unsafe”.
It takes place at the Safety Zone on Gairbraid Terrace this Monday, April 29, at 7pm – with organisers saying: “Our children’s safety is at stake, and we need to make our voices heard.”
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Bargeddie mum Marissa Cloughley, who led the residents’ recent protests in their home area and at the council headquarters, said: “The purpose of the public meeting is to keep the momentum going, ensure the people affected stay engaged and keep the pressure on North Lanarkshire Council.”
Residents expect to be joined by local councillors as they aim to “show the power of community”, discussing their concerns and saying: “Our children deserve better than to brave hazardous conditions just to get to school.”
Families across North Lanarkshire are protesting against the cost-cutting measure agreed in last year’s budget which will only see transport provided for mainstream pupils living more than two miles from their primary school and three from secondaries, compared to the respective current thresholds of one and two.
More than 150 pupils and families spent an hour walking the three miles from Bargeddie to the two high schools in February to demonstrate their concerns about the pedestrian route along the busy A89 and the impact of poor weather conditions on the journey.
They then staged a demonstration outside North Lanarkshire’s civic centre last month ahead of a council meeting, and were joined by families from across the authority area including those affected by routes set to be cut in Motherwell and Cumbernauld.
Around 2000 pupils across North Lanarkshire will be impacted when 24 secondary bus routes cease at the end of this school year, followed by another 1000 primary pupils in August 2025 – with the move saving £3.6m per year.
A council spokesperson said: “Costs have increased by 52 per cent since 2021-22, with total school transport [now] costing the council around £120,000 daily.
“The current annual cost to transport a single pupil to and from school [is] £1305, which is an 8.5 per cent rise on last year’s figure.”
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