BY MARK McKELVEY

Representatives from the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) hope to meet DUP Assembly Member Tom Buchanan to discuss his concerns about the proposed withdrawal of transport provision for some children attending Castlederg High School from September 2008.

In recent criticism of the WELB's transport department regarding this issue Mr Buchanan condemning the proposals as "ludicrous" and expressed his grave concern for the safety of the 16 children affected.

In clarifying the position regarding the recent changes to home-to-school transport the WELB spokesperson advised that the Department of Education (DE) had asked all Boards to end the practice of three children sitting on a seat designed for two on their buses as from April 2007, which has resulted in fewer seats being available to pupils ineligible for transport assistance.

A move they say means safer transport for the 11,000 pupils who are entitled to the service and who are transported on a daily basis on the WELB's transport fleet.

The WELB spokesperson said, "The Board wishes to emphasise that it makes every effort to reduce the impact of the removal of concessionary transport and to date there has been minimal displacement of pupils as a result of the change in service provision.

"In this case the Board has been able to retain concessionary transport in the morning to Castlederg High School for the pupils affected but are unable to do so in the afternoon. This is due to the numbers of pupils to be transported, the schools closing times, the routes to be undertaken and the availability of vehicles.

"The Board is acutely focused on providing a safe service and will continue to modernise and upgrade its school bus fleet to provide pupils eligible for transport in the Western area with access to the very best school transport service. However, it has to operate within the legislative and financial requirements as laid down by DE."

Cllr Buchanan said that a number of parents have contacted his office to express their concern regarding this removal of bus facilities and say they are determined they will not put their children in a situation which will compromise their safety or indeed their lives.

Cllr Buchanan said, "Little thought has been given by the decision maker to the areas where the affected children actually live which includes Castlefin Road, Priestsessiagh Road, Barleyhill Road, Kilclean Road and Moneygal Road.

"Should these proposals be permitted to come to fruition from September these children's lives will be placed at serious risk, not only from the dangers posed by the busy, dark, overgrown roads with no footpaths or street lighting but also from the republican areas of Castlederg they will be compelled to walk past namely Castlefin, Churchtown and Hillview Parks where they will undoubtedly be the subject of harassment, intimidation and possible attack.

"It is a well known fact that already children from Millbrook Gardens cannot walk into Castlederg via Castlefin Road without being the subject of verbal abuse and attack and these proposals will only add to this problem.

"While I appreciate this was only concessionary transport – given the dangers posed to these children should it be removed I call on the transport officer to urgently review his decision. I have already written to him and urge all parents to do likewise to have this provision retained.