Stirling slims down free school transport to fight child obesity

14 June 2006

The entitlement of children to free school transport in Stirling has been reduced, in order to reduce obesity and expenditure.
Stirling council’s economy committee has agreed to only give under-eights living two miles or more from their school free bus transport, rather than the one-mile limit previously applied.
Older children will now only receive free home-to-school transport if they live more than three miles from school, rather than two.
A spokeswoman for the council was unaware why the authority had set up such a generous settlement in the first place. She said: ‘We are under pressure to make efficiency savings, as are authorities across the country. Obesity is a problem not just here, but nationally, and encouraging more children to walk or cycle to school will help combat this.’
The £2.1M school transport budget would be cut by £74,000 as a result of the changes. The council has appointed a safer routes to school officer to work with individual schools on encouraging parents not to drive their children or, if they have to, areas where they can park before the school gates, and join the walking bus.
A spokeswoman for Living Streets welcomed the move. ‘Up to a mile is a fine, healthy walk or cycle for a child, as long as there is a safe route for them to follow,’ she said.

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Stirling slims down free school transport to fight child obesity

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