Pupils told to walk for two hours after council cuts school bus

Times

2 days ago

Pupils have been told they should walk for two hours a day to attend school after the council cut their bus service.
The almost three-mile route to Cumbernauld Academy had been deemed unsuitable in April, but parents were notified in June that after the summer break pupils who live on the fringes of the catchment area would be advised to make the journey on foot.
Previously, pupils in the Carrickstone area were allocated seats on the school transport service provided by North Lanarkshire council.
Emma Ross, whose son Nathan, 12, is due to join the school in August filmed herself walking the route, which she said took 69 minutes each way and included poorly maintained paths through forested areas with overgrown bushes.
Nathan is one of 183 pupils affected by the cancellation of three school bus links. Of these pupils, 13 will still be allowed free transport when term starts in less than a fortnight, while the other 170 must make their own way.
'I'm all for exercise and you know a good 15, 20-minute walk is totally acceptable, but after a three-mile hike day and night carrying books and equipment they will be exhausted,' said Ross, 44.
'In Scotland the weather is not the greatest and Cumbernauld itself is very known for its hills.'
She questioned the safety of the pupils in winter walking when it was dark, noting some children may be travelling alone after staying late for after-school clubs. She said the forested path 'is obviously very secluded' and the amount of overgrown foliage on the route could be a ' bully or a predator's dream'.
Her video, shared on social media, has attracted support from other parents.
'I too am a parent of a 13-year-old girl from Carrickstone,' wrote one. 'I 100 per cent agree the walking route is unsafe.'
Another contributor said Ross had 'echoed the thoughts and feelings of parents across Cumbernald,' adding: 'To request young children to do such a walk twice a day, five days a week is ludicrous.'
Based on typical walking speeds, 12-year-old children would be expected to take between 45 minutes and 75 minutes to complete the journey to school, and the same to return home at the end of the day. The statutory walking distances for school in the UK are generally two miles for children under the age of eight and three miles for older children.
Buses to Cumbernauld Academy and Our Lady's High School in Motherwell are affected by the withdrawal of bus routes.
Announcing the decision in June, North Lanarkshire council said: 'The parents and carers of pupils on these contracts had previously received information indicating that no acceptable walking route had been identified at that time.
'Further letters will be issued on June 16, 2025 to advise that this position had now changed and that pupils who currently travel on these contracts will no longer be entitled to school transport from August 2025.
'We understand that this means that some parents/carers will be disappointed with this news but the policy change to school transport qualification distances means that North Lanarkshire council is now in line with the majority of local authorities in Scotland. The routes identified have been deemed acceptable following robust assessments.'
Jean Taha, Nathan's grandmother who was born in Lanarkshire and became a deputy head teacher in Plymouth, said she was 'very concerned' about what the decision would mean for her grandson.
She said some parents had heard of an assault taking place on the path in the past. She added: 'I worked in a challenging area. There are going to be kids that are going to have to walk to school and will not be properly shod and properly protected from the weather.' This would add to their stress levels and ability to learn, she said.
Ross said pupils who walk to school may be at an educational disadvantage compared with their peers.
Tanya Braun, director of external affairs for the charity Living Streets, which supports walking to school schemes, said: 'What is considered safe differs depending on location. Even where schools and homes are geographically close, our experience is that people will not choose to walk unless routes are safe and attractive. Better crossings, clear pavements, safe speed limits and good lighting are some of the measures needed to make people feel safe.
'Ultimately, if a family doesn't feel safe to let their child walk to school, then they won't walk – regardless of what's deemed appropriate on paper.
'We know from our work in schools that distance is one of the main factors affecting someone's decision as to whether their child walks to school or not. Removing a sustainable travel option runs the risk of just forcing more people back into their cars, increasing congestion, pollution and road danger around schools. For families without access to a car, it creates unnecessary anxiety at what should be a happy time in the next chapter of their child's life as they seek alternative arrangements.'