Fury over bus cutbacks as row refuses to fade
ANGRY parents rounded on council chiefs during unprecedented scenes at Tom Johnston House.
Around 200 parents and children converged on the council HQ last Thursday night to protest against the council's budget decision to cut the free school bus service.
During the meeting members of the public stormed out in disgust from the chambers after Labour and Tory councillors vetoed a debate on the school bus transport policy.
Only 23 people - less than the number of councillors in attendance - were granted access to the council chambers manned by stewards and police officers.
Save Our Buses campaigner Paul Martin said: "We were very disappointed by the way East Dunbartonshire Council handled the entire meeting. Parents and young children were met by stewards and police officers and the vast majority were denied access to the chambers and herded into a canteen where the speaker system failed as the meeting went on."
From August, only primary pupils living more than two miles and secondary pupils living more than three miles from their schools will be eligible for the free school bus service. Furious parents say the decision will cause unprecedented traffic chaos and put children's safety at risk.
At the end of an unprecedented evening at council headquarters, a proposal was agreed upon to introduce an initially underwritten 'pay-as-you-go' bus service for two school terms from August of this year. Parents and bus contractors have already told the Herald they feel the 'pay-as-you-go' service is 'unmanageable'.
A Bishopbriggs parent said: "The council's attitude at the meeting was completely antagonistic. We need more information about the pay-as-you-go service, but parents feel as if their hands are tied. The council is washing its hands of this issue and privatising the service."
This week, council leader Rhondda Geekie told the Herald she was delighted to have secured cross-party support for the amended service.
See this week's Herald for the full story.
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
