Falkirk Council: Controversial plans to axe up to 33 school buses back up for discussion

The plan would see around 1000 school pupils across Falkirk lose their entitlement to a free school bus pass. Around 600 more would be affected by the withdrawal of services.

The plans were postponed last year when opposition councillors refused to back them. However, a new report is being presented to councillors next Wednesday.

The basic proposal remains the same – if accepted, the changes will mean that home to school transport will only be provided for primary pupils who live more than two miles from their catchment area school by the nearest available safe walking route; and secondary pupils who live more than three miles away.

However, the new report contains mitigations that it is hoped will counteract some of objectors’ worst fears.

Five routes in particular have been classed as ‘unsafe’ and pupils will not be expected to have to use them to walk to school.

Drove Loan will not be regarded as a safe walking route until the road is upgraded, which means an estimated 156 pupils from the Bonnybridge area now require free transport. Two additional buses will temporarily be needed at an estimated additional cost of £80,000 per year.

Another area highlighted is the junction at Salmon Inn/Grandsable Road, and a small number of pupils from the Polmont area would remain eligible for free transport if the changes go ahead.

Letham to Airth Primary and Dunmore to Airth Primary are also included, although the small number of children affected here could be accommodated within existing bus and taxi contracts.

The council is also in discussion with McGill’s buses about ‘tweaks’ to regular services that would make it easier for pupils to use public buses.

Since announcing the proposal, Falkirk Council has argued that it has one of the more generous home to school transport policies in Scotland. And it insists that even once the changes are made, it will remain well over what they are legally obliged to provide.

The council insists that changes are necessary to save £1 million a year. And with a budget gap of more than £60 million to find over the next five years, the report says this money-saver is the “least worst” option facing the council.

Previously, when the proposal was put to councillors the Conservatives said they wanted to see the alternative cuts that would need to be made if no changes are made to buses. The new report makes it clear that any cuts will be made to the education budget.

But the updated report also warns: “Unless significant steps are taken to address this the Council will not be able to balance its budget, and there is a risk that the Scottish Government would appoint external advisers to take over leadership of the organisation – with limited accountability to local Elected Members.”

The proposal will be discussed next Wednesday at a meeting of Falkirk Council in Grangemouth Community Education Unit at 10am. The meeting will also be live streamed.