School Buses – Renfrewshire Council Emergency Meeting, Monday 8th March

PARENTS DEMO
Wendy Receives Many Moving Responses Against The Removal of Buses in Renfrewshire

Wendy said, “I expect a big turnout on Monday. I do not think the council has thought through the consequences of this misguided decisions. What happens to disabled parents of children facing very costly zone card bills?

I received some very moving accounts of how the removal of school transport in Renfrewshire will affect the lives of parents and children. One mother wrote about how it will cost her 71 pounds a month in zone cards in August to send her children to school. Another mum is partially sighted and had to surrender her driver’s license in 2005 so she cannot drive her children to school. A Chair of a Parent Council has mobilised into action to help gain support for the cause.”

These responses can be read below:

Mum 1

“I totally support the campaign to save the school transport as I have signed the petition but in another way. I am also very annoyed because come august 2010 I will have to pay out 71 pounds a month on two zone cards as my youngest will be attending St Benedict’s which means they have to travel 5 miles to school and 5 miles back. I feel like I am being punished because my daughter went to a different high school. Due to bullying in primary school my daughter was too scared to attend St Andrews so both will go to St. Benedict’s in August. I feel like I am completely on my own and have no one I can get help from.”

Mum 2

“I can’t tell you what good news this emergency meeting is. I became partially sighted and disabled in 2005 and had to surrender my drivers licence. Since then I get about using the buses, walking when they don’t appear, and taxis (I bite the bullet and pay up or I’d never go anywhere) so I appreciate, probably more than the councillors appear to (I only see my local councillor in her car) what the kids would be exposed to on a daily basis i.e. carrying bags, getting drenched and cold, missing buses, if indeed they run at all.

It’s the service we need even if we have to contribute to it. The drivers are vetted, the buses are safe, and the kids from P1 age can use it – not so sure you could put your child onto an SPT bus with this confidence.

My children are at primary but it wont be long till they would have to do that walk and no way I would expect it of them.”

Dad 1

“There should be a big turnout. I am taking time off work to attend the protest and the meeting as well.”