Labour to cut school buses for over 8,000 pupils in South Lanarkshire
by The SNP candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election has voiced her to opposition to plans by Labour-run South Lanarkshire Council to only provide free transport to students who live more than 3 miles from their catchment secondary school, rather than the current 2 mile limit.
The Interim Executive Director of Education Resources has confirmed these plans, starting from August this year, are a £2 million cut “based on a 35% to 40% reduction in the number of eligible pupils.”
According to 2024 school census data, there were 20,616 secondary pupils in South Lanarkshire in that year. Therefore, this would amount to cutting bus services for as many as 8,246 school children. For pupils from St John Ogilvie High School, for example, 98% will no longer qualify for school bus transport under Labour’s plans – leaving just two eligible pupils.
The SNP strongly opposes these cuts, with late local MSP Christina McKelvie working tirelessly to improve local transport, saving the crucial X1 bus route.
Already 91,526 concessionary fare passes have been issued to over-60s and disabled people in South Lanarkshire, and 48,041 passes have been issued to young people under 22.
Under this SNP Scottish Government, free bus travel for disabled people, over 60s and other qualifying groups remains in safe hands.
The SNP’s Katy Loudon has vowed to continue “delivering for this community” if elected as the next MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse on 5th June, saying a vote for her will send a message to Labour that parents are not wanting these Labour cuts.
Councillor Loudon, a former teacher, said she is appalled to see Labour inflict such sweeping cuts on children and families across this community.
She added, “Keir Starmer’s first decision in office was to cut vital support for pensioners; and this spring his Labour government cut £5 billion of support to disabled people.
“Now, in South Lanarkshire, Labour are doing the same, cutting vital services to thousands of families and letting down local children.”
She described these decisions as “Tory decisions, made by Labour; a party that has lost its way.”
The SNP on South Lanarkshire council has opposed this decision at every turn, whilst the SNP Scottish Government has been delivering free bus travel for tens of thousands of people across South Lanarkshire.
Councillor Loudon concluded saying, “The SNP always wants what’s best for Scotland, while Labour are balancing the books on the backs of pensioners, people with disabilities and children, I will always put the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse first.”.