Anger from Midlothian parents as school transport changes leave pupils stranded

Parents confronted education chiefs at a public meeting after their children were denied home-to-school transport during a review of the system in Midlothian.

Around 60 people attended a meeting organised by Dalkeith High School’s parents partnership after many families received letters during the summer holidays telling them their children were no longer entitled to the free bus services.

In some cases it was claimed parents were given ‘safe’ walking routes their youngsters could use which took them through unlit woods or along busy main roads and junctions.

And some parents threatened to boycott the return to school on Thursday this week unless their transport was reinstated.

Midlothian MP Kirsty McNeill has called on the local authority to pause changes to the school transport services after being flooded with complaints from local families.

In a letter to the chief executive of the council Kirsty said: “Given the large number of significant concerns being raised by families, I strongly urge the council to pause these changes.”

A spokesperson for Dalkeith High School’s Parents Partnership described the council’s approach to changing its transport policy as a ‘Mickey Mouse review’.

They said: “The council required families to apply for free bus passes this year but not every family who uses them was aware and many who did found they no longer fit the criteria despite being given it in the past.

“Families who were denied were sent maps of safe walking routes which seemed to be outdated and were not safe, while individual circumstances were not considered.

“A lot of people are worried about how their children are going to get to school, one primary school whose P7 parents say they were not told they had to apply for a pass as they move into secondary school are talking about keeping their children at home until the issue is reversed.”

A spokesperson for Midlothian Council said they recognised concerns from parents and welcomed the chance to attend the meeting, held in Dalkeith yesterday evening.

However, they said their transport policy had not changed and they continue to offer free transport to eligible pupils who live more than two miles away, pointing out it was more generous than Scottish Government guidance, which recommends three miles.

They said: “To support a more consistent and transparent assessment process, Midlothian Council has introduced an application-based system and specialist mapping software which measures eligibility from individual property locations.

“This calculates the distance between a pupil’s home and school using recognised walking routes. Previously, transport eligibility was often determined using broader geographic areas or communities rather than individual homes.

“It is now a requirement to apply for school transport each year as circumstances can change over time and the annual application process helps ensure that transport is allocated fairly and based on current information.

“There have been no changes to ASN transport entitlement. Applications are assessed individually to ensure transport support is provided where it is needed.”

Last year, the council said it supported transport for more than 2,300 pupils, with only 1,900 applying for passes for the current year. It is not known how many were rejected but appeals and reviews are still ongoing.

At the meeting with council officers last night, parents were told the council was currently dealing with 88 complaints about the new process.

Following the meeting, Lasswade High School Parent Council issued a statement on their social media saying that council officers had ‘apologised’ for recent issues.

They said: “They advised that (they) have updated their guidance to ensure children are not expected to walk through wooded areas. Additionally, several routes previously designated as “safe walking routes” have been removed, and ongoing reviews are taking place regarding poor lighting and missing pavements.

“Pickup points should be a maximum of 1.5 miles from home, but it was acknowledged that multiple children were assigned distances exceeding this limit in error.”

Midlothian MSP Colin Beattie, who attended the meeting, said afterwards: “While I recognise the challenges involved in managing transport services, it is vital that individual circumstances are carefully considered and that the safety and well-being of children and young people remain at the heart of every decision. Parents need confidence that any concerns raised will be listened to and assessed on a case-by-case basis.”