Parents slam council over school bus fiasco

Jun 26 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO Hamilton families have hit out this week at transport arrangements to Calderside Academy.

Ken Marshall (61), of Dunkeld Place, and Debbie Murdoch (31), of Wellcroft Road, are both angry at South Lanarkshire Council for not allowing their children to use free bus travel to the Blantyre school.

Amongst his many claims, Ken argues that some children in the Wellcroft Road and Comrie Crescent areas are not getting bus passes while their next-door neighbours are.

In Debbie’s case, one of her children has a pass while the other does not – even though they live in the same house.

In a letter published in the Advertiser last week, Ken said: “Along with my partner Sandra, we applied for a bus pass for our daughter Caitlin, who starts at Calderside next term.

“In a letter, the council said our address in Dunkeld Place was within safe walking distance because it is less than two miles away from the secondary school.

“On enquiring about the non-eligibility of our claim, I said I believed the council should have a re-think. They should also have the decency to give an answer, as any promises to get back to us have never materialised.

“We, like many other furious parents in the area, are completely dumbfounded at the failure of the council to answer.

“We believe our house is outwith the two mile radius. There’s a situation where children are living next door to each other and one receives transport while the other does not.

“Of course, it is not the parents fault if they get a pass and others don’t. The council are to blame. Every child should be entitled to a pass.”

“On the closure of Earnock High School we, like all parents, were told transport would be made available for our children to and from Calderside Academy.

“Are the council again backtracking on promises made or simply penny-pinching by not laying on transport because of the cost?”

Full-time mum Debbie Murdoch will have two daughters at school in August – Louise (12), and Julie (11).

Debbie added: “Louise was given a bus pass but it was taken off her in January because the council said we had moved house and were now outwith the boundary.

“We moved from Dunkeld Place to Wellcroft Road, which is only a matter of yards.

“It is totally ridiculous. Julie now has a bus pass and Louise doesn’t. They live in the same house!”

On reading Ken Marshall’s letter last week, Councillor Graeme Horne was prompted into action.

He said: “On reading this I immediately contacted Education Support Services to be informed that there had been an administrative error but was assured that the parents concerned would be lettered this week to explain and confirm that the children in Mr Marshall's area would indeed be entitled to free school transport to Calderside Academy.

“I hope this reassures everyone concerned.”

A spokesperson from South Lanarkshire Council added: “The council is currently reviewing these individual cases and will respond to the parents directly.”