SCHOOL TRANSPORT

[Kinman]

I was horrified on saturday when my sister received a letter from Argyll & Bute Council to say my nephew was no longer to be transported to school, which i heard others have also been lettered.If this is the case are the Council going to make a pavement from Southend Village to the school with street lighting,as it is dark in the winter mornings,so much for the children safety,schools now have security locks on doors to stop intruders coming into the schools, but it is ok for them to get them walking to and from school,i know 30 yr ago we walked to school but there wasnt the same traffic on the roads, into the bargain only speaking about Southend School they will need to make a proper carpark to cope with the volume of traffic that will be stopped to collect and drop off children,anyone else got thoughts on this ........................................

PS. children being uplifted outwith the 2 mile zone will be driven passed on the same road while the other kids are walking! probably with empty seats on the bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EileenH]

My kids live 2 miles from school. A couple of years ago I got a letter to say the school bus wouldn't pick them up. If you complain you will find that if there is no pavement or street lights you still qualify for school travel. My kids still get the school bus because of this. Have you spoken to the head teacher? That's who sorted the problem for me.

[minsyb]

When I attended the grammar I lived 3 miles away and was expected to make my own way to school yet my friend who lived on Kilkerran Road was entitled to school transport! Never did quite understand why they were entitled and we weren't!!

[EileenH]

I live at Glenramskill. Maybe she was far enough along that there was no pavement? I grew up in Helensburgh and lived a 25 minute walk away from school. I wasn't entitled to school transport. I used to get annoyed at the bus passing me on wet days. Maybe if there was no pavement to my house I would have been on the bus! I think, knowing where the school is at Southend that maybe the powers that be that make these decisions don't realise the danger to these children if their transport is taken away. I'm sure once they are made aware they will change their minds.

[Kinman]

I know the parents of the kids concerned have written letters to Argyll & Bute school transport divsion giving there views and fears of the safety of the kids, the stretch of road is 60mph limit, i personally think it would save the council more money to continue transport as make pavements and street lighting, the saga continues...................................

[minsyb]

My first mile of 3 had no pavement! Two school buses travelled for the remaining 2 miles of my route and we weren't entitled to board! I think they sometimes make the rules up as they go along!!

[EileenH]

I would think if the Transport dept at Dunoon are made aware that they will be held responsible for the childrens' safety they will reconsider. It has to be fair that, if they provide transport for my children on the grounds that there is no pavement for the first mile, then they have to also consider this for the children in Southend. They can't do it for one route but not for another. That's not fair. Has anyone spoken to the school head to approach Dunoon on this matter. My kids were at Castlehill at the time ours was to be taken away and the head teacher contacted Dunoon to sort it out.

[John S]

I am following this up with The Council, Southend PS would be too dangerous and should be exempt according to the conditions outlined in the letter.

[John S]

Safety inspections for the routes are being carried out for the 80 primary schools across the county and should be complete by the end of next month.

[Kinman]

John glad to hear this !! maybe when they have had a look at the route from Southend village to the school they will rethink their plans, not only is there not a pavement from the village to the school there isnt even a pavement from one end of the village to the other, to make it safe to walk from far end of the village to the post office but that is another issue. Lets hope they put the childrens safety first.............

[EileenH]

My son has just informed me that, although he qualifies for school transport, the kids along the road won't because they have a pavement. That means the bus is going to pass them on the way to school! Thats daft.