Public could use school buses to cut transport costs
THE public could soon be hopping on school buses to travel in Sutherland as part of a drive to shave more than £250,000 off Highland Council’s £1.6 million transport budget.
Transport services were put out to tender this year and the council is evaluating bids with a view to awarding contracts over the next few months.
David Summers, the council’s transport development officer, said Sutherland residents needed and wanted to use school buses to get around.
He said: “There were three routes in particular that residents expressed an interest in using. They are the Melvich to Farr High School route where the current operator has told me they are already carrying members of the public. The Bonar Bridge to Dornoch and the Kinlochbervie service is also wanted.”
He said the new operators could open those school bus services up as public routes as long as the buses were not full with pupils.
Local councillor Graham Phillips said this made “perfect sense”.
He said: “People have been asking for this for a very long time. If you’ve got buses with school pupils which are not full then why on earth shouldn’t the public be able to make use of them? That makes perfect sense to us.”
It is not yet known exactly how much this particular move would save as part of the whole cost-cutting drive. Mr Summers turned down the chance to speak directly to a journalist.
However, local members praised his handling of the public consultation exercises which took place across Sutherland recently.
Councillor George Farlow, SNP member for North, West and Central Sutherland, said: “The consultation at ward level was excellent and although not wholeheartedly approved across the ward, there was some good input from members of the public and those who run community bus and transport.”
Councillor Phillips agreed with this view but expressed concern that some bus routes might have to be cut back to make the council’s savings quota of 15 per cent.
He said: “I don’t think we can understate the importance of continuity of service within remote and fragile areas.”
