High School Buses Saved for Ravenscriag

Posted on 25 February 2024 by Martin
  • High School Buses Saved for Ravenscraig
  • North Lanarkshire Council confirms “council bus transport will continue to be available to the Ravenscraig area despite recent changes in eligibility criteria for secondary mainstream school transport”.
  • The move comes on the back of RCAG’s ‘Save our School Buses’ campaign.
  • On 23rd March 2023 we hosted an online public meeting with councillors and council chiefs.
  • We shared our learnings in a new ’10 things you need to know about Ravenscraig’ newsletter.
  • We committed to fighting council cuts to Ravenscraig free school buses until our long-proimsed new, local schools are delivered.
  • We made the case for retention in our formal submission to the council and have met with councillors, the Convener of Education, our MSPs and MP.

HIGH SCHOOL BUSES SAVED FOR RAVENSCRAIG

Ravenscraig Community Action Group (RCAG), fostering families, community and sustainable place making at the heart of one of Europe’s largest urban transformation programmes, has welcomed confirmation that high school buses have been saved for the Ravenscraig area.

Confirmation came in an email from North Lanarkshire Councillor Kenneth Duffy which stated:

“Council bus transport will continue to be available to the Ravenscraig area despite recent changes in eligibility criteria for secondary mainstream school transport”.

The move comes on the back of RCAG’s ‘Save our School Buses’ campaign where the group argued both for the safe and accessible local schools our community was promised, but also for safe and secure bus provision given the lack of public transport and safe walking routes.

The Action Group recently met with Provost Kenneth Duffy, representatives of all political parties, Pamela Humphries, Chief Officer, Place, North Lanarkshire Council and Pauline O’Neill, Education Manager, North Lanarkshire Council. The group was grateful for the positive engagement with officers and elected members from all parties.

During a digital public meeting hosted by RCAG on 23rd March 2023, both officers also reconfirmed the authority’s commitment to the two schools at Ravenscraig. 

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “We remain 100 per cent committed to delivering a new community hub, which will include two new primary schools, within Ravenscraig. 

“This project is expected to be delivered as part of the next capital programme allocation for the Town and Community Hub Programme of Work. The next capital programme is expected to commence in April 2024. 

Ms. Humphries confirmed that the council would this year receive ‘an initial £4.7 m payment….. as a contribution to the first primary school, and Ravenscraig Ltd have also agreed to transfer the SC site to the council for the purposes of delivering the primary school. I can further confirm that the payment, once received, will be ringfenced and will only be used for the purposes of education provision for the Ravenscraig development. 

With a circa three-year planning and build programme, current estimates for delivery (subject to capital programme timelines) could see both schools open after 2027.

The authority, in policy papers and in public statements, recognises that unlike other areas, the site currently suffers from poor access and is investing in multi-modal access improvements inc safe walking, cycling and public transport provision. Whilst some local access (eg to Craigneuk) has been provided, many of the improvements to areas required to access main access points are some years off.

Councillor Kenneth Duffy’s full email reads:

“I understand that there may have been some confusion or concern regarding the continuity of bus transport for pupils leaving from Ravenscraig. 

“I am writing to clarify that council bus transport will continue to be available to the Ravenscraig area despite recent changes in eligibility criteria for secondary mainstream school transport. 

“The changes to eligibility criteria for primary mainstream school transport will come into effect from August 2025. Independent roads specialist in accordance with road safety guidelines will assess routes and this will be communicated to parents when complete. 

“If any resident has further questions or would like more information about the schedule and routes of the council bus transport to the area, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. “

Ravenscraig Community Action Group is committed to continuing to work positively with North Lanarkshire Council and is will continue its focus on protecting school bus provision for primary schools.

More information on the group and it’s work is available from : http://www.ravenscraig.org

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