Council decision on Portgordon school transport petition
Moray Council has today rejected petitions calling for the reinstatement of a dedicated school bus between Portgordon and Buckie High School.
Two petitions from local residents and young people asked the Council to bring back the service, raising concerns about the safety of the walking route and the reliability of public transport.
After considering the evidence, councillors agreed with officers that the current walking route meets national guidance for a ‘safe walking route’ when pupils are accompanied.
A detailed assessment found that:
- There is a continuous footpath along the route.
- Traffic volumes and speeds are within acceptable limits for safety.
- There is no pattern of accidents indicating a specific risk to pedestrians.
Based on this, the Council concluded that there are no exceptional circumstances requiring a dedicated school bus service.
The decision reflects the Council’s school transport policy, which provides free transport only where pupils live beyond set distances or where no safe walking route exists. A commitment was given at the time of the policy amendment to review the decision after a year of implementation.
Alternative travel options remain available, including local bus services and free travel for under-22s, as well as walking and cycling routes.
Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “We fully understand the concerns raised by families and young people in Portgordon, and we appreciate everyone who took the time to engage with the petitions process.
“However, we have to apply our policy fairly and consistently across Moray. The evidence shows that the route meets national safety guidance when children are accompanied, and there are no exceptional factors that would justify reinstating a dedicated school bus.
“We will continue to look at improvements to the route where possible and support families to make the safest travel choices for their children.”