Published: Thursday, 11th March, 2010 6:00am

School bus saga triggers meeting

by Kirsty Gibbins

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PARENTS and residents in Elphinstone concerned over plans to reduce free home-to-school transport for secondary pupils are being urged to attend a public meeting hosted by Tranent community councillors later this month.

Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council (TECC) has rescheduled the date of its monthly meeting, which was due to take place on Tuesday, to increase the likelihood of Fa'side councillors Ruth Currie and Kenny McLeod attending to answer members' and residents' queries concerning plans to scrap free school transport for secondary pupils living in Elphinstone.

The controversial move is part of East Lothian Council's approved 2010/11 budget and will see all county high school children travelling three miles or less to school no longer eligible for the local authority's 'home to school' transport scheme - which either delivers a free bus service for pupils or provides them passes for commercial bus routes - from August. Mrs Currie and Mr McLeod, both SNP administration councillors, were criticised by TECC members at the group's February meeting after failing to attend and accused of neglecting the local watchdog group.

The TECC will now hold its next meeting in Elphinstone Primary School at 7pm on Monday, March 29 and group chairman Raymond Strang has urged all parents and residents in the village to attend and air their views.

He told the Courier: "It is the intention of TECC to investigate with our administration councillors, on behalf of the Elphinstone school parents, the implications of the 2010/11 council budget.

"Our understanding is that there will be no review into the decision that school kids in the Elphinstone locus will be required to walk to school, despite the good people of Ormiston and Macmerry being advised that a final decision was yet to take place for their school bus service, in light of the numerous complaints raised by members of public in both these areas.

"There are a number of unanswered questions surrounding the way that the changes to the home-to-school scheme will affect schoolkids and families in Elphinstone."

He added that other budget issues TECC were seeking more information on included the proposal to slash funds given to supported bus services as current contracts come to an end - which could lead to reduced timetables on less economically viable routes. Mr Strang explained that TECC members were concerned that the council-subsidised 110 First bus service - the only public transport serving the village - could be at risk, leading to serious implications for all residents.

"Neither Councillor Currie or McLeod has indicated a willingness to come to the meeting and we wanted to give them an opportunity to attend and answer our queries," he added.