School Transport Cancellations

After Strathclyde Partnership for Transport took the last minute decision to cancel essential school bus and taxi services across North Lanarkshire just hours before the start of the new term, Anum Qaisar MP wrote directly to the Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council. In her correspondence, Ms Qaisar raised the issue as a matter of urgency, expressing her deep concern for the impact this may have on young people accessing education across the constituency, questioning what swift action could be taken to resolve the issue in the short and long term, ensuring that all options are explored.

Commenting on the issue, Ms Qaisar stated:

"I was shocked to learn that Strathclyde Partnership Transport have cancelled several essential bus and taxi services for school children. Across the wider North Lanarkshire area, I understand that this will impact roughly 1150 pupils accessing mainstream transport, and 59 pupils accessing ASN transport.

The decision came as a deeply unwelcomed surprise - just hours before the new school term was set to start and has caused immediate disruption to pupils and families across the Airdrie and Shotts constituency.

I appreciate that there must be conversations and dialogue with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as to how we got in this situation, but the current priority must be for young people to access school.

I am in conversation with the Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council to ensure that we come to an immediate resolution"

I urge people across Airdrie and Shotts to get in touch with me if this has impacted them. My office number is 01236 793900 and my email address is anum.mp@parliament.uk."