Wishaw’s Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) is ramping up pressure on local councillors ahead of a crucial meeting on school transport scheduled for later this week. The SNP Group is set to introduce a motion on school transport during the upcoming full council meeting on Thursday where councillors will make a decision on this significant issue.
Clare Adamson, the MSP representing Motherwell and Wishaw, has raised concerns about the proposed safe alternative walking routes identified by the council, stressing the clear safety risks for students. She addressed this issue during the First Minister’s Questions session. Adamson highlighted that over 400 children attending schools in Motherwell and Wishaw no longer qualify for local authority transport.
The ongoing issue has prompted parents, carers, and pupils in North Lanarkshire to appeal to the Labour council after cuts were made to school transport provision. Despite vigorous campaigning against these changes, the pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears. The SNP group has been actively opposing these cuts and is advocating for a review that would allow for a more thorough evaluation before implementing any changes to primary school provision in the upcoming year.
The current situation has stirred a wave of protests, with concerned parents staging demonstrations outside the council’s headquarters in Motherwell. The changes in qualifying distances for free school transport, aiming to save £3.6 million, have impacted high school pupils already, and assessments are underway for safe walking routes to primary schools, with potential changes affecting younger children next year.
North Lanarkshire Council’s decision to alter the qualifying mileage limits for free school transport has left over 400 students in Wishaw and Motherwell ineligible for this service. The council justified this move as part of cost-saving measures amidst the need to reduce expenditures significantly in the coming years. They reiterated the importance of parents and carers ensuring the safe commute of their children to school.
As the council meeting approaches, the Wishaw MSP is urging constituents and families affected by these changes to reach out to their councillors and express their concerns before the crucial vote on Thursday. The debate surrounding school transport in North Lanarkshire continues to intensify, with stakeholders on all sides advocating for solutions that prioritise child safety and access to education.