| Granny's fury over kids' mile-long walk to school |
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| Written by Andrea O'Neill | ||||||
 A STEWARTFIELD grandmother is angry after council cutbacks removed a vital school bus link for her two young grandchildren.Christine McGuire, 59, says St Kenneth’s primary six pupil Samantha, 10, and primary four pupil Calum Ferguson, 8, have been “placed at risk” since South Lanarkshire Council withdrew one of two school buses on the Stewartfield route at the start of term in August 2009. The children were told they did not qualify for privilege seats on the remaining 49-seater bus, meaning they have to walk almost a mile from MacArthur Court to and from school, and cross a busy main road during morning rush-hour traffic. Christine supports her daughter Susan, who recently became a single parent, by escorting the children to school when she goes to work. However, she says she struggles to make the daily journey as she suffers from health problems. Christine said: “They’ve had privilege seats since they started school and now they’re expected to walk almost a mile in the snow and cross a dangerous road. “There are other children who live the same distance who have kept their space on the bus and don’t always use it, but I’m told that is their right. We need this every day so how is that fair? “It’s bureaucracy gone mad. My council tax is paying for this bus.” Christine is calling on education bosses to either re-instate a second bus or put on a 52-seater that will accommodate Samantha and Calum, leaving an extra space for anyone else who may need it. However, the council says the children live within a mile of the school which is close enough to walk. The Fergusons live 1,350.9 metres from St Kenneth’s. To qualify for a privileged seat, they would have to live at least 1,609.3 metres from the primary school. A council spokesman said: “Mrs Ferguson and her children live less than one mile away from St Kenneth’s primary school so they do not qualify for free school transport. “Privilege passes were granted with the clear provisal that these passes could be withdrawn if circumstances changed. They did change and the passes were withdrawn. “Council officers have provided Mrs Ferguson with two safe walking routes to St Kenneth’s primary school that her children can use to get to school safely. “The education resources department has already confirmed in writing that no privilege places are available at this time. Should any spare capacity be identified, the parent will be informed.”
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