STAGECOACH and Fife Council have come under fire for failing to display appropriate signs on school buses carrying pupils in Dunfermline.

Ron Beaty, of the School Bus Safety Group, has written to Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley, the council and the coach firm to demand answers after spotting six buses taking pupils to and from Dunfermline High School without the retro-reflective yellow school bus signs in two separate checks since November.

As part of the terms of the contract agreed by Stagecoach to operate school bus services on the local authority’s behalf, they are are obliged to “display school bus signs of the type and in the manner prescribed by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994”, which should be fitted to the front and rear of the vehicle.

Mr Beaty said, “It is incredible that Stagecoach should put pupils lives at risk and my response from Fife Council was not the best, as they basically contacted Stagecoach to remind them of their responsibilities.

"The other companies at the school were all properly equipped and, on the check in November, four buses were that day transporting pupils home without adequate and safe signage.

“Had there been an accident, would it simply have been reported to the bus company? Fife Council has a duty of care to each pupil legally.” Mr Rowley commented, “These rules are there to enhance safety and companies have to comply with that.

"It seems that they are still being flaunted so it is really important that a campaigner such as Ron is recognised by the Parliament as it is a serious issue and I am pushing for the council to put measures in place to ensure they comply.” Bob McLellan, head of transportation and environmental services with Fife Council, said, “We rely heavily on reports from the public and staff at schools to report problems with these contracts. My staff will then take up these issues with the operators concerned.

“In this particular instance, as a result of Mr Beaty’s correspondence and information received from elsewhere, my staff carried out a survey at a number of schools in the Dunfermline area during the week commencing 9th February.” Mark Whitelocks, operations director for Stagecoach East Scotland, said, “The safe carriage of all of our passengers is our primary concern and our vehicles fully comply with all legal requirements regarding school bus operation.

"The requirement to carry a yellow school bus sign is a stipulation by Fife Council when operating any of their school bus contracts and having been made aware that a small number of our vehicles were not carrying these notices, we are taking steps to ensure these signs are featured on any vehicle which may operate these contracts as a matter of urgency.”