Subsidised school buses will stop at the end of the current school year, as councillors backed the plan despite concerns about safe walking and cycling routes.
East Ayrshire Council cabinet approved the move on Wednesday, following some heated words over the safety of walking routes for pupils.
The subsidised transport scheme was the only one of its type in Scotland, but was putting increased financial pressure on the council, with income far less than the cost of putting on buses.
There will be a focus on improving walking routes, while many pupils are able to use free bus passes to get to schools.
The report had suggested that the end date should be April, around the Easter holidays.
However, a number of councillors pointed out that this would coincide with exams.
Councillor Elaine Cowan said that, when approving a pilot scheme earlier this year, the date had been changed to avoid the exam period.
The biggest issue around the proposals was the safety of the walking routes that pupils would take.
Cllr Cowan also said that safety was key to her support, pointing out concerns around crossing Glasgow Road, along with improvements to footpaths.
“I think the date needs to be seriously considered because the last thing you want is any disruption during the exam timetable.
“I think we’re all really disappointed that Stagecoach haven’t seen this as a viable option because I thought we had a a solution there.
She asked whether there was scope for retaining one of the existing subsidised routes.
Both Cllr Cowan and depute leader Jim McMahon homed in on the safety aspects of active travel routes, either cycling or walking, used by pupils and insisted they should be talking about ‘safe active travel’.
“The lack of a pedestrian crossing on the Glasgow Road is a red line for me.
“I’m anxious crossing that road as an adult so I think we really need that crossing there.
“I know that on the boundary of my ward part on that same road there’s a missing bit of pavement.
“Both of those items need to be in place before any changes are implemented.”
Labour depute group leader, Councillor Barry Douglas, said he had also raised the missing footpath and had been given assurances that the work would go ahead.
“It is important that is crucial particularly if there is future house building as is already been proposed in the east side of Glasgow road that that gap is completed.
“Thirty years ago, it was in the countryside. Today it’s very much in the urban heart of the town and it’s key.
“I don’t think it’s safe to have anybody crossing that road twice, children or
adults to be honest.”
Parent representative Jackie Livingstone agreed that the implementation dates and roadworks were at the forefront of parents’ minds.
“Can we have today a guarantee of the date of when the roadworks on Glasgow Road will be completed. Because get told that it would done by the end of the financial year isn’t good enough.
“I can watch the children trying to cross the road and there’s roadworks at the moment. They’re taking their life in their hands.”
Head of Roads Jane Corrie gave a guarantee that the works would be completed before the end of March. It was also estimated that the cost of postponing the implementation date until the start of the 2025/26 school year would be around £150k.
While the majority of councillors accepted the commitment to ensure safe walking routes, Labour group leader, Councillor Maureen McKay told the meeting that the plans did not sufficiently address the safety concerns.
She argued that the subsidised service was brought in due to concerns about safety.
Cllr McKay said she felt those issues were not fully addressed in the current plan, adding that the number of pupils and level of traffic in the north of Kilmarnock would increase with new homes being built in the area.
She said: “I have to say merely putting the word safe in front of active travel does not in my experience make a blinking bit of difference as to whether or not it is actually going to be safe or not.
“The issue is that active travel over this period of walking area cannot ever be something that we can guarantee to be safe.
“I see nothing now which has actually changed.”
She added that the increase in housing in the area meant more traffic and potential for incidents.
Cllr McMahon responded: “This is not the the case of just putting a word in
front of active travel.
“This is the hard reality of costs and surveys and consultations that have went on for months.
“I certainly agree with increase of housing you will see potential increase in cars on the road.
“But I am assured that we will make these routes as safe as possible to the school.”
Council Leader Douglas Reid pointed out that schools had undertaken numerous initiatives to encourage pupils to walk to school.
Cllr Cowan also responded, insisting there was investment being made in active travel. She also pointed out that, unlike in 2012, pupils now had access to free bus travel.
Councillor McMahon tabled a motion to approve the report, while changing the implementation date from April to the end of the school year on June 27, 2025, and subject to all of the necessary improvements being made to the active travel routes.
The motion also asked the head of roads to re-engage with Stagecoach around the direct bus service from North Kilmarnock to New Farm Loch.
Cllr McKay tabled an amendment to retain the subsidised transport scheme.
The motion was approved by 11 votes to three, with both the parents’ and teachers’ representatives in favour of the report.