School bus campaigners return to North Lanarkshire Council HQ but education committee won't discuss issue
dailyrecord.co.ukConcerned parents staged another protest outside North Lanarkshire Council’s headquarters in Motherwell on Tuesday afternoon over cuts to free school buses.High school pupils have already seen their right to free transport affected by a change to qualifying distances and the local authority is currently assessing safe walking routes to school for primary school-aged children.In a bid to save £3.6million, North Lanarkshire Council agreed to change qualifying mileage limits for free school transport from one mile to two miles for primary school pupils, and two to three miles for secondary school pupils.With the new parameters over 400 children at schools in Wishaw and Motherwell no longer qualify.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 The protest coincided with a meeting of the council’s Education Committee and parents took to the public gallery to follow the proceedings at which Cllr Greg Lennon of Progressive Change tried desperately to have a 1700 signature petition, over child safety and school bus transport, heard.
However, the convener of the committee, Cllr Michael McBride refused to discuss free school transport and the petition, deeming the matter as a non-urgent.Cllr Lennon was threatened with eviction from the debating chamber when he tried to raise the matter, which wasn’t on the agenda.Kerry
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