In one of the most indefensible of decisions imaginable, Argyll and Bute Council is to remove the school bus service from primary school children in Arrochar at the head of Loch Long.
The tinies will now have to walk the narrow and dangerous arterial trunk road into Argyll, the A83, between Arrochar and the school in the nearby village of Tarbet, on the other side of the isthmus on Loch Lomond.
The danger
This stretch of the A83 – always a busy road – sees, in addition to its normal traffic volume, regular usage by timber lorries and the articulated delivery trucks that are a feature of highland life.
Where two such large vehicles, travelling in opposite directions, meet – as is a normal feature of traffic on this road, they are each forced to the outside limits of their side of the road.
This makes walking the footpath especially frightening – and dangerous – at the greatest point of risk on the route, under the rail bridge carrying the West Highland Line, near the entrance to Tarbet,.
Here – as is obvious in the photograph above (taken this morning – 9th August 2010), the footpath narrows to a width of 70cm, wide enough only for a single adult, not an adult and a child. Moreover the nature of the footpath at this point is unsafe. It has an inner kerb protruding above the level of the tarmac surface of the path and it has a drain grid, all likely to cause a stumble particularly in a sudden distressed movement.
As the photograph above shows with the oil tanker – not itself as big as the timber lorries which regularly use this route, there is virtually no tolerance between the side of the tanker and the outer kerb. The blast of these large vehicles as they pass so close is sufficient to destablise an adult never mind a small child.
Note as well that in this instance the oil tanker was the only vehicle on the road and look at the position of its outside wheels in relation to the centreline on the road. With the belly of the tank projecting beyond the wheels, it is easy to see the vehicle’s immediate need to move even farther left where it – which is normal – is meeting a bus or another truck going in the opposite direction. An experienced driver will shave the kerb. An inexperienced one may mount it.
People of any age walking on this part of the route are also liable to be soundly soaked from the wheel splash of these huge vehicles in wet weather. There is a high bank beside and behind the stone pillar supporting the bridge, leaving no room to pass behind it – and once under it, there is nowhere to run.
In such circumstances as the one you can see above, there is huge concern about the panic reactions of small children, their relative instability, their capacity for spontaneous and illogical action and indeed in the precision of the skills and experience of the drivers of the opposing vehicles.
The Council’s ‘evaluation’
An ‘evaluation’ of the road was recently carried out by the Council, concluding in its being deemed fit for the children to walk to school and leading to the decision to withdraw the school bus service from them.
It is impossible to see how this route can be judged safe for such young children to walk to school.
However, the service to children from Succoth, beyond Arrochar, is to continue because that village is outside the distance limit from Tarbet, requiring the Council to provide the bus service that appears to be discretionary in the case of Arrochar.
This means that a service will pass the Arrochar kids on their walk and, ironically, contribute to the traffic volumes and passages they will have to dodge.
Since the Council decision, Dumbarton MSP, Jackie Bailie has walked the route with some parents and verbally condemned the Council for expecting the children to walk this route, focusing also on the parts of it – not on the A83 – where there are no footpaths.
We understand that, on this walk, as the party reached the rail bridge, an articulated lorry passed them and everyone, including the MSP, was terrified.
Translate this experience into that of children of five, six and seven years of age and the incomprehensibility of this decision is clear.
A Council spokesperson told us today: ‘The walk to school route in Arrochar has been deemed safe.
‘All routes were surveyed by staff from the council’s roads and amenity services team and follow guidance published by the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum which the council adopted some time ago’.
Community consultation and community consequences
Parents in Arrochar were given no advance warning that the route was being tested to see if the school bus service might be withdrawn. They also were given no opportunity to inform the decision taking process.
Some parents, who work full time and cannot deliver their children to school are now so concerned about the dangers of this route that they are actively exploring the need to move their children to another school.
Everyone knows how fragile the survival of local primary schools is and, presumably, Tarbet is as exposed to the risk of falling roll numbers as any other?
There is local disquiet at the inactivity of the Community Council in this matter. This does not appear to be the usual criticism that Community Councils regularly endure from community members who do not themselves share the responsibility for their community by standing for election to the body.
We are aware of at least one concerned – and angry – parent who did join the Community Council at the last election and resigned within weeks, driven by despair at its performance.
For Argyll strongly supports the concept and the empowering of community councils, understands the thankless work of their elected members, the strains under which they operate as full volunteers and the general lack of overall community engagement in taking responsibility for its circumstances.
This particular case is a testing one for the Community Council responsible for Arrochar, both in defending the obvious interests of its community and of buttressing its own credibility.
For Argyll has now asked Argyll and Bute Council, under Freedom of Information legislation, for material relating to the testing of this section of the A83 and the decision to withdraw the school bus service from the Arrochar children.
We have also asked for the details of the costs involved in continuing to run the bus service from Succoth and of adding a pick up for the Arrochar constituency – which presumably would mean the use of a bigger vehicle.
We and the public need to understand the basis for this decision if there is to be an informed discussion on the current situation.
Update 9th August 22.00: There is a new twist to this tale, reported here. We also understand that there is a meeting on the subject in Arrochar Village Hall on Thursday night (12th August) at which Jackie Baillie MSP will be present and at which The Herald and The Evening Times are expected.
HGVs may be an inevitable feature of rural life. The aggressive and reckless way some of them are driven is not. This is a crazy decision on the part of the Council; especially if a school bus is running that way anyway.
Time for a 40 mph speed limit between Arrochar and Tarbet?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I travel this route frequently – by car I might add. In addition to the dangers covered in this article, sections of the route are subject to regular flooding. So apart from being buzzed by high speed cars outwith the limits of the villages and deaved by heavy freight, children risk being drenched by waves of water from wheels often larger than they are.
Perhaps a case for the Child Protection Unit for a council decision that places children in danger!!
Children face many dangers in our society and a duty of care on behalf of a local authority must be rigorously upheld. The Argyll & Bute Council Child Protection website states -
“Child protection is one of the most important duties that we all have”
Then there are the dark mornings to come following the annual clock change and the afternoon walk home in a twilight of shadows in the forest sections.
So just what did the risk assessment cover?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Russell Bruce: We have to hope that the FoI material, when we get it, casts some light on this.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Back in the early 1980s . if my memory serves me right, I am almost certain that I saw and heard Lord James Douglas Hamilton announce at Scottish Question Time in the House of Commons that “work on the Arrochar and Tarbert by-pass plan was about to begin”.
Evidently there was a problem in the area thirty years ago,and is it still the case that nothing much will ever be done to improve or rebuild the A82 and A83 in that area until the West Highland Railway Line is no longer in operation?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Pingback: Argyll News: The Arrochar school bus saga: If you can pay your child will be safe :Argyll,Arrochar school bus,Argyll Bute Council,child safety, | For Argyll
“In one of the most indefensible of decisions imaginable” – you can’t help but laugh at the drama of it all.
If the public find these sort of budget cutting decision unpalatable then they are really going to struggle when the real budget cuts hit.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Like Russell Bruce I have often driven this road and only last week, aware of the proposal to withdraw the pupils’ bus service, I paid particular attention when I travelled on the Oban to Glasgow bus. There were roadworks in place and the space at the bridge was even more critical than usual and when the bus had to pass a container lorry heading north the narrow pavement appeared totally inadequate. When you add winter darkness and winter weather conditions to this it is difficult to see how this decision can be justified and I hope and trust that a rethink will take place.
Allow me a shade of cynicism at the “outrage” of Jackie Baillie MSP, though. Does she not know that “outrage” is the prerogative of Alan Reid, MP? If only the Labour Party, when in office, had displayed a degree more of the rigour and prudence that they continually harped on about and avoided landing every council in the land with the blight of PFI balances that will affect council finance for decades to come, if only they had not, as Liam Byrne smirked, “spent all the money” there might be better options open to our councillors.To paraphrase an old New Labour jingle, “Things can only get worse” -and they will.These decisions about school transport are inevitably only the precursors of deeper and harder economies on the horizon and Ms Baillie’s outrage, however shrill, will not cut much ice.
Last week The Herald was reporting on Labour outrage
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Jim….
Glad you find the safety of my young children so ammusing Jim!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Your children do not amuse me. The writing style of the For Argyll writers does however.
I wouldn’t worry about it too much anyway, quite a few of these weins who are being forced to exercise their legs will be back on buses when their schools get closed down. I wonder if For Argyll will have to redefine “the most indefensible of decisions imaginable”….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
*weans
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Pingback: Argyll News: Is there another angle on the Arrochar school bus saga? :Argyll,Arrochar,school bus,tarbet school, | For Argyll
Pingback: Argyll News: Arrochar meeting on Council decision to make the tinies joust with A83 traffic :Argyll,Arrochar,A83,Argyll Bute Council, | For Argyll
Hi Jim, read your post very witty, you seem to know quite a lot about the “budget cutting” if you are not in politics, then I pray you are one of the faceless ones who work for the council
and soon find yourself on the dole when they budget cut your position and you find yourself not walking but “on your bike”. As for the children exercising thier legs I am pretty
sure that they could run rings round you as they are always on sponsored walks and runs to fund raise for thier school that they all love dearly.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
hi jim, just read your comments and find them disgusting! my child would love to walk to school but being born with only one fully functioning lung and kidney would find this very difficult!!
not only that if the council make our roads and pavements safe then our children would be more than happy to walk, as linda has stated i hope you are one of the faceless idiots that work for the council as i truly hope only them can be so vile on this matter.
i think people really should get all facts regarding this matter before they go ahead and spout what can only be described as utter S**t on the matter.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Jim,
Hello Jim, whoever you are. I see from your several comments relating to this matter that you find the safety of young children quite a trivial matter. I’m sure you find your flippant comments quite amusing with the anonymity that your computer screen provides you, I am quite certain however, that you would be less reluctant to speak in such a frivolous manner if in the company of the people this decision affects. I also note that you say that it is “…The writing style of the For Argyll writers…” that you find amusing and yet here you are on their site writing comment after comment. If you are above such writing why spend your time indulging it, I suspect that your life is of such insignificance that this is how you fill your time, picking fights for arguments sake. Or perhaps you can prove me wrong and let us all know your true identity and the powers you hold (your self importance gives the impression of a man of great purpose). Personally, I suspect that Jim is simply a pseudonym for ‘complete pratt’. Goodnight Jim, happy blogging.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Linda: I’m afraid your prayers will go unanswered.
Carol Murray: Your child’s disability is a reminder to all of us who are healthy just how lucky we are and the importance of looking after ourselves. I agree that facts and evidence are of paramount importance and lets hope that they can put to rest much of the melodrama generate over this issue.
david and Jaclyn Sparks: I discuss matters such as these with others on a daily basis and enjoy hearing and debating all opinions. My flippant comments on this particular article are in response to FA’s style of reporting and not the subject matter. This is something other readers of the site have commented on recently too.
Secondly I haven’t levelled insults at any other contributors to this site in the manner that you have and I believe it only lowers the level of discourse.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
jim you really are a c*&k
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
jim:
please dont presume you know anything about my sons health and as for melodrama over the issue that is only your opinion as of today the 28th august i have still not recieved any letter from the council to say my child can get on the bus.
as for the road issue i think there is a valid point that people are missing the council have deemed the route safe with a 60 mph limit on in but have ruled out the other route around the village via footpaths and only crossing at a 30mph beacause the children would then have to walk 2.5 miles to school! which would mean a bus would have to be reinstated!
as i stated earlier please feel free to comment on our childrens lives when you know the full story behind the issue
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
carol murray: It was yourself that raised the issue of your child’s heath, if it is a subject you do not wish discussed then it would be an idea not to introduce it into the debate.
I believe I know enough about the issue at hand (which is walking routes to school and not particular children’s medical conditions) for me to comment and will continue to do so as long as FA permit my contributions.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0