Parents and safety campaigners on Luing have welcomed news that Argyll and Bute Council will be arranging door-to-door school transport for the island’s youngsters.
It was at this month’s March meeting of the council’s community services committee, where a further five years of mothballing was agreed for Luing Primary School, that Argyll and Bute executive director Douglas Hendry said on record that the Transport Committee would be arranging for door-to-door transport from the island all the way to Easdale Primary on neighbouring Seil.
A statement from Luing Community Council said it was excellent news, and will be of great help in making it easier for children on Luing to attend Easdale school on the neighbouring island of Seil.
"Since the school was mothballed in 2021, parents have had to make the journey twice a day in their own cars to get their young children safely to school and back. It’s expensive and time-consuming, and makes it difficult to attract new families to live on Luing.
"Luing Community Council will do all it can to support Argyll & Bute Council to find and employ a driver for the new door-to-door service on the island. We are also collaborating with Argyll & Bute Council’s ferry officials to improve Cuan ferry timetable, so that it makes it easier for parents and children to participate in extracurricular activities out of school hours.
"While Luing Primary School continues to be mothballed, we want to ensure our children can participate in Easdale school life on an equal basis with children from Seil."
Campaigner Norrie Bissell said it was "a great victory for the parents who have been taking their children by car to Easdale Primary School at great expense for safety reasons."
Island mum, transport campaigner and community councillor Alison Young said she also welcomed the news but was staying "dubious" about getting too excited "until I have a school bus or taxi at my front door to do the school run and back".
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute confirmed a driver’s job to take on the school run was being advertised.
“The council intends to arrange door-to-door transport for pupils from Luing going to Easdale Primary and home again. We are currently advertising for a driver to take on this new school run. This is a great job for anyone looking for regular, part-time hours during school term time. The vehicle will be based at Luing ferry terminal, so would suit someone living in Luing or perhaps even Easdale. More information on the role can be found on MyJob Scotland (Ref. ARB14021).”
Islanders on Luing have long-time been lobbying for the return of a door-to-door school bus service.
Luing Community Council has thanked its ward councillors for their support in getting further mothballing for the school and have also asked for their help to get confirmation of what Mr Hendry meant and what the new transport arrangement would entail.
Last year there was a series of meetings and communications where top level Argyll and Bute officials pledged to work with the community and come up with a solution.
The council’s approved arrangement was for its minibus/community car, to only take children as far as the Cuan ferry. The youngsters, some who were as young as four, were then expected to walk down the slipway on to the vehicle ferry and then walk off at the other side to catch a public service bus to get to school and be greeted by a teacher.
Worried about children’s safety, parents had taken on the school run themselves in their own cars.
Luing Community Council was also involved in dialogue with the council.
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