Millburn Academy pupils could be left stranded amid changes to the Milton of Leys Stagecoach school services
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A raft of concerns regarding school buses for Millburn Academy, Inverness, have been raised with Highland Council and route operator Stagecoach.
The list of worries include cuts to services, buses not stopping at the correct stop and changes which will see certain pupils within catchment area losing access to free school transport.
Some parents fear the changes – due to come into effect after the April holidays – will mean some children will be left unable to get to school.
Representatives from the school have been in talks with Stagecoach and Highland Council in a bid to flag these concerns.
One of the key changes will be getting rid of a single decker coach from the fleet servicing the school – leaving just three double deckers.
David Summers, principal transport officer with Highland Council, explained in the letter to parents and carers from the school about this decision.
He said: “The three-mile limit passes through the built-up area of Milton of Leys so, depending on their home address, some pupils are entitled to free transport whereas others are not.
“The council is under significant budgetary pressure, and the cost of transport contracts, like many other costs, is increasing.
“Four buses are currently provided for home to school transport from Milton of Leys to Millburn Academy, at a cost of £195,889 per year.
“The 222 entitled pupils can be accommodated in three double deck buses. It has therefore been decided to withdraw the fourth bus after the Easter holidays.
“Passes will be issued by Highland Council to all entitled pupils, and these must be shown when boarding the bus.
“These passes will identify which bus each pupil is to use.
“There will be very few spare seats, so it is important that pupils use the designated bus. Buses will run non-stop between the three-mile point and the school.
“Regretfully, this means that it will not be possible to accommodate non-entitled pupils on the route, but in this respect, pupils living in the lower part of Milton of Leys are in the same position as those in other parts of the city who live less than three miles from their school.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: "The number of vehicles funded by The Highland Council from Milton of Leys to Millburn Academy will be reducing from four vehicles to three as of Easter and will be stopping at Milton of Leys Pinewood, Wester Inshes and Millburn Academy.
"Only pupils who are entitled to free home to school transport in line with The Highland Council Education Transport Policy will be allowed to travel on these vehicles as they will not be registered as public service routes.
"In line with policy, only pupils who live over three miles from their designated school, or where there are other exceptional circumstances, are entitled to free transport provision funded by The Highland Council. Stagecoach have confirmed that, in addition to the three vehicles mentioned above, they will also be running a public service bus for fare paying passengers and those who have an Under-22 travel pass.
"This vehicle will operate at an earlier time than the dedicated school vehicles and will be numbered route 105 and will be integrated into the number four timetable from August.
"Stagecoach have asked that parents are reminded that, as this is not a dedicated school transport route, there may not be seatbelts on the vehicle used.
"Additionally, Stagecoach will be reviewing the use of this vehicle and cannot confirm whether it will continue beyond Christmas.
"Any pupil with a Highland Council School Bus Pass cannot use it to travel on the public service vehicle.
"Senior Staff from Millburn Academy and Officers from The Highland Council have met with Stagecoach regarding the recent issues reported concerning the route between Millburn and Milton of Leys and have agreed to meet again next month to review how things are going."
