No free school bus – with short cuts you're 18 metres too near

Published on Friday 23 January 2009 21:21

A SCHOOLBOY has had his free bus pass withdrawn after his local council ruled he lived 18 metres too close to his school.

Matthew Woods, 13, of Dalgety Bay in Fife, was told he no longer qualified after officials remeasured his walk to school and found it came in under the two-mile cut-off point.

However, his mother, Carole, 46, said the route the council used was shorter because it went straight across a main road, rather than through an underpass. And it ended at the nearest school gate – which pupils are not allowed to use.

Fife Council ruled that, with a few shortcuts, Matthew's route to Inverkeithing High could be reduced from 2.004 miles to 1.993 miles.

But Ms Woods branded the decision "ludicrous" and "dangerous". She said: "They've taken countless measurements over the year, chopping and changing their minds all the time.

"Just last year, they told me my son was entitled to free transport because we live 2.004 miles away.

"Then came a letter last November, claiming that, for whatever reason, we're no longer over the two-mile boundary.

"Not only is it an underhand way of trying to save a bit of money, it's also really irresponsible of them to expect a 13-year-old boy to take shortcuts through unlit areas in the evening and cross busy main roads. That's so dangerous."

On Tuesday, the second-year pupil handed his pass in to the school office after it was damaged. But he was refused a replacement after being told he was ineligible and had to make his way home on another bus.

His mother said: "He got quite emotional over the thought of having to tell me what happened. He knew I'd get upset about it and I had to reassure him it wasn't his fault – that it was the council I was furious at."

Road safety campaigners condemned the council's move. Cathy Keeler, the deputy chief executive at Brake, said: "It's disappointing that officials are being such sticklers for the rules when a child's safety could be at stake. For the sake of 18 metres, we would urge the council to reconsider the matter from a road-safety point of view."

However, council officials said Fife offered a more generous bus-pass scheme to youngsters than was prescribed by law.

James McKinstry, a senior resources manager, said: "The law says free transport should be provided for pupils over the age of eight living more than three miles from their catchment school, and for pupils under the age of eight living more than two miles away.

"In Fife we go beyond this, providing free transport for all primary pupils living more than one mile and for all secondary pupils living more than two miles from their catchment school."

He said Matthew's situation had come to light after a new pupil living in the same area prompted a reassessment.

And he insisted the calculation took into consideration factors such as suitability of walking routes and infrastructure changes, as well as distance.

Mr McKinstry went on: "We have used an updated computer package, which gives very accurate measurements to establish the distance along this route which, it transpires, is below two miles. Unfortunately, this affects the entitlement of some pupils to free transport, but no passes have been withdrawn without notice being given."

He said it was assumed each child is accompanied by a responsible adult when walking to school.

Ken Cunningham, the general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents secondary headteachers, said: "While there is sympathy to be had for this mother and her son, the local authority is perfectly within its rights to do this."

BACKGROUND

PUPILS who are due to start at a school in Fife undergo a process to see if they are entitled to free bus travel.

By law children over eight years old living more than three miles from school and pupils under eight living more than two miles away are entitled to free transport.

Fife Council provided free transport to all primary pupils living more than a mile away and all secondary pupils more than two miles from school.

Entitlement is calculated using a computer package to establish accurate distances between pupils' homes and their school.