School transport between Newtonhill and Portlethen Academy is to become free for all pupils thanks to a new concession bus pass scheme for everyone under 22.

Until the pandemic struck, the school buses also operated as a local bus service. However to maintain covid physical distancing rules Aberdeenshire Council opted to deregister meaning they were operating as dedicated school transport services only.

Physical distancing guidance has now changed and there is the opportunity to re-register these services.

Meanwhile the national Under-22 Concession Scheme for free bus travel is scheduled for implementation on 31 January.

A decision has been taken to reinstate combined school transport/local bus operation of the Portlethen Academy services, from 17 February, after the mid-term break.

This will have the advantage of:
• Bus operators will be able to seek reimbursement for fares revenue foregone on behalf of the council from Transport Scotland;
• families of non-entitled pupils who have been benefiting from free travel will continue to do so as the pupils affected will be able to continue to travel free under the Under-22 Concession Scheme; and,
• allowing families ample time to apply for a Under-22 Concession Pass, with the application process opening in mid-January.

Portlethen Academy is letting pupils/families know of the availability of the free concession travel in advance in order to permit a seamless transition for those affected.

Just to be clear, this only affects the three buses that serve Newtonhill. There are no current plans to register any other (dedicated) school transport services as local bus services. On the three buses from Newtonhill any member of the public could travel (as they could in the past).

The buses will still display school bus signs. The signage will no longer be a legal requirement but the council’s terms and conditions of contract require operators of combined school transport/local bus services to display school bus signs on any journeys to/from a school.