Susan Ferguson, 40, was angry when her children, St Kenneth’s primary pupils Samantha, 10, and Calum, 8, were forced to walk almost a mile to school after losing their seats on the Stewartfield school bus.
Susan, an assistant accountant, said: “I’m delighted at our victory. The kids are back on the bus with their friends and most importantly, they are safe.
“It’s nice to know that if you make as much noise as you can, it works. I’m like a dog with a bone and I’m prepared to keep on fighting for their spaces for the rest of their time at school.”
After South Lanarkshire Council scrapped one of two school buses on the Stewartfield route because of budget cuts, Samantha and Calum were told they did not qualify for seats anymore because they lived less than a mile away from the school. They were advised instead to walk along two “safe” routes from their house in Macarthur Court.
However, Susan says what the council failed to make clear was that their suggested routes were deemed safe only if accompanied by an adult.
She said: “They said the two routes were safe to walk but never mentioned that they had to be with an adult.
“How can they be safe if they are walking across busy roads during morning rush hour and along secluded paths during dark winter mornings.”
Susan monitored the bus for a few weeks which she says is half empty most days. As a result the council sent letters to parents appealing for children who don’t use their seats to return their passes and three spaces soon became available.
Susan added: “It’s a weight off our shoulders. We are happy that the kids are more content and we can get on with our lives as well.”
A South Lanarkshire Council spokeswoman said: “Privilege transport is granted, providing there is a spare place on an existing school contract and is allocated at various times during the year – the start of a new term, the October break, Christmas and Easter breaks.”
