Local MSP Jackie Baillie has called on Argyll and Bute Council to reinstate a school bus service for primary school children after a road that leads to one of its primary schools was closed yesterday morning (7 September 2010).

Jackie has joined with local pupils and parents to campaign against the decision by Argyll and Bute Council to cut free school bus services for primary school children who live less than two miles away. Despite an independent safety assessment carried out for the parents which highlighted the hazards along the route to Arrochar Primary School, the Council remained adamant that pupils and their parents should walk.

However, Church Road which is a key part of the route to Arrochar Primary School was closed off resulting in pupils and their parents being forced to walk around the village to get to the school - a distance of more than 2 miles, which would have qualified for free school transport.

Jackie said:

"The news that Church Road was closed this morning underlines the fact that Argyll and Bute Council have got this decision badly wrong. Pupils and their parents had to walk around the village to get to Arrochar Primary School, a distance which took them over the two mile threshold.

"Argyll and Bute Council should have provided a bus for these pupils and their parents this morning but unfortunately yet again they are showing a blatant disregard for the safety of these young children.

"Only a week ago, there were two car accidents on the same stretch of road and now this morning one of the key roads to the school is closed. How can the Council still maintain that the route to the school is safe?

"The Council should really reconsider and reinstate the school bus service, as the safety of the children remains an issue."