For immediate release:

SCHOOL BUS CUTS CAMPAIGN STOPS OFF AT THE COUNCIL’S HQ

Parents, carers, and young people from Cambuslang and Blantyre took their campaign to save free school transport provision to South Lanarkshire Council’s headquarters in Hamilton.

The council recently announced proposals to alter the qualifying free transport distance a mainstream secondary school pupil must live from their catchment area to three miles; it is currently only two miles. If the plans proceed, they would take effect from August 2025.

The latest protest comes after pupils, alongside their parents, carers and local politicians, marched from Hallside Primary School to Cathkin High School on Sunday, February 11, to oppose the plans.

The demonstration at the council’s HQ was attended by pupils from Cathkin High and Calderside Academy, as well as young people from their feeder primary schools.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, who took part in the walk as well as attended the protest at the council’s HQ in Hamilton on February 14, told Lanarkshire Live:

“Despite miserable weather, local young people and their parents and carers turned out in great numbers to protest against the bus cuts at South Lanarkshire Council HQ.

“It was a pleasure to join them.

“They’ve led a brilliant and colourful campaign so far – shining a light on the council’s unsafe, unworkable and unpopular proposals which would remove free school transport provision for many.

“South Lanarkshire Council must listen to the community and keep free school transport provision.”

In response to calls for more time to consider the proposal, the council has extended the consultation period by 2 weeks. The consultation will now close on Friday 15 March.

It can be accessed using the following link: https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200140/education_and_learning/2196/secondary_school_transport_-_consultation.

ENDS