A WORRIED mum claims her S1 son’s safety “has not been considered” after a school bus for secondary school children to and from Milton and Dumbarton was stopped.

The parent, who asked not to be named, says her 12-year-old, who has recently started at Dumbarton Academy, must walk more than two miles to hop on public transport on his own.

She claims the school bus had previously picked up secondary children at Whyte’s Corner, Milton, to take them to the school.

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But this year, she says her son has instead been given a First Bus pass by the council, with the school bus no longer running.

The frustrated mum told the Reporter: “The concern is that My son needs to walk over two miles just to get from the house to the bus stop, which will tire him out before the day has even started, and he has never had to be on a bus on his own to go anywhere before.

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

Whyte's Corner, where the bus used to pick up her son

“I can’t be at two different bus stops at the same time for my P5 to get to Knoxland – she gets picked up by the school bus at Whyte’s Corner.

“Most of the S1s have never been on public transport on their own. My son would need to leave the house before 8am to walk to the bus stop across from the Milton Inn.

“We live next to Overtoun House, so it’s a fair distance. I also have a child at Knoxland Primary who still gets a school bus provided. 

“She gets picked up at Whyte’s Corner to get to her school on time. 

“I don’t drive and I have health issues so I can’t be in two places at the same time.”

And the mum claims children’s safety has not been taken into consideration.

“The council needs to take our children’s safety seriously, especially when the high school kids have got such a busy road to cross,” she added.

A spokeswoman for the council confirmed that the previous Dumbarton Academy school transport contract had “expired”, and that in line with council procedures, “school transport can be provided by any mode of transport.”

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“West Dunbartonshire Council provides transport to every secondary school child who lives two or more miles from their catchment school,” the spokeswoman added.

“We are sorry to hear this parent has concerns and we would again urge her to contact our transport co-ordinator directly in order that we can fully assess her individual circumstances.”