ANGRY parents have blasted the council for stopping their kids from using the school bus.
Six pupils from Palnackie have been given less than two weeks to find alternative transport after being told they had only been allowed on the bus as “a favour”.
A bus has been ferrying pupils from Palnackie and Auchencairn to Dalbeattie Primary and Dalbeattie High for years.
But some parents were told last Wednesday they had just 11 days to find another way of getting their children to school.
The News understands there have been 34 children using the bus which sits just 28.
A letter penned by senior pupil/parent support officer Leslie Beck was posted to the parents affected, and was the first the families knew about the move.
It read: “As you know [your children] are currently transported to and from Dalbeattie Primary School on a ‘grace and favour’ basis.
“Unfortunately, due to the number of entitled pupils we now transport, we can no longer provide this service and must ask you to make your own transport arrangements as from February 1, 2010.”
Mum-of-five Liza Perry’s family is one of those affected.
Three of her children have been using the bus for years.
But her daughter Rosie who is in primary six, is one of the kids who won’t be allowed allowed on the bus in future.
She said: “The whole thing is a complete joke. For two of my children to be allowed to use the bus and the youngest to be told she can’t, is appalling. It’s victimisation.
“And for them to give us just over a week to make alternative arrangements is terrible.”
Mrs Perry has been scrambling to change her arrangements to allow Rosie to continue attending school.
She told the News she may have to quit her childminding job and even leave the area.
She said: “It’s a very serious problem for us. There isn’t even a regular service bus they can use from here.
“The only other option we have been given is to move schools, which would cause real upheaval.”
Jackie Harvey is another mum who received a letter through the door. She said: “I just can’t believe there was absolutely no consultation over this. It’s really upset the kids.”
Mrs Harvey has gained support from Abbey councillors David Stitt and Ian Blake.
Councillors Stitt said: “I think it’s disgraceful. The families have been told to get alternative transport but how can they do this at such short notice? It’s a nonsense to me.”
Councillor Blake said: “It does seem a heavy-handed approach to the issue. I think it has to be looked at again.”
Both councillors will raise the issue with education director Colin Grant.
A council spokesman said: “Parents whose children who are granted a place at a non-catchment school are advised from the outset that transportation to the chosen school is their own responsibility.
“The council transport policy allows for some pupils who are not eligible for school transport to benefit from a ‘grace and favour’ place if space allows.
“This place is only available for as long as it does not disadvantage pupils who are eligible for transport.
“Although it is recognised that if a grace and favour place is withdrawn this may be disruptive, it should be noted that the family will have been, up until this time, fortunate to receive free transport to school where they were in fact, not eligible for this service.”
