North Lanarkshire budget sees cut to school transport

dailyrecord.co.uk:

School transport provision is to be cut by North Lanarkshire Council to save £3.6m after the local authority agreed its budget for 2023-2024.Pupils will now only be provided with free travel to mainstream schools where they live more than two miles from their primary school or three miles from secondary, compared to the council’s current policy of one and two miles respectively.A public consultation exercise will begin next month in which families can give views on the safety of their local walking routes, with the administration insisting transport will still be made available in circumstances where youngsters are deemed not to have a safe pathway to classes.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Council leader Jim Logue admitted the cut was “unpalatable” but says North Lanarkshire is one of only four Scottish authorities still operating the enhanced transport eligibility policy and insisted the saving is necessary to balance the books while ensuring no job losses.It was opposed by the SNP group, who called the issue a “red line” with group leader Tracy Carragher saying: “We have areas without a proper bus service and this puts too many families at a disadvantage.

The people of North Lanarkshire haven’t forgotten the dreadful demolition of Kilbowie and cuts to swimming lessons and will not forgive