A COUNCILLOR has launched an astonishing tirade against his own local authority for issuing an edict to cancel all school transport last Thursday.

Scottish Borders Council made the decision the previous afternoon after the Met Office issued an Amber weather warning in anticipation of 3-6 cms of snow falling widely across the region in the 12 hours from 7pm.

In the event, the snow failed to materialise over that period, but Councillor Rory Stewart, an Independent member of the ruling administration at Newtown, was unaware of that when he took to social media in the early hours of Thursday to vent his spleen.

In a Facebook post which soon racked up over 80 “likes”, Mr Stewart, who runs a plastering business in Jedburgh, blasted: “I’m absolutely astounded by the actions of SBC – what on bloody earth has got into them?

“First of all, at the beginning of December, they banned all secondary pupils [in Jedburgh] from leaving the school premises at lunchtime because of high water levels!

“They want the students to behave like young adults, but they themselves treat them like children.

“Now the cancellation of all school activities, school lets or sporting lets tonight [Wednesday] because of snow! What a load of nonsense! Where’s the snow SBC?

“The cancellation of all school transport tomorrow [Thursday] - what!!! But teachers who commute are still allowed to travel!

“The forecast is for snow; yes, well maybe we will get snow, it is winter after all, but should that stop the education system? I don’t bloody think so. What’s wrong with waiting until 6.30 or 7am and making a decision then?

“The forecasters can hardly tell us what the weather was yesterday never mind what it’s going to be tomorrow.

“You make yourself a laughing stock at times SBC and indefensible!! What’s next on the ludicrous list – no children should come to school on a sunny day just in case they get a touch of the sun?”

SBC later defended its decision, with emergency planning officer Jim Fraser stating: “We take decisions based on the very latest information from the Met Office and associated advice from Police Scotland.

“The forecast on Wednesday afternoon presented a clear and substantial risk to all school transport routes, hence the decision to cancel these as early as possible, giving parents the greatest time to make any necessary alternative arrangements.”

Several parents went on SBC’s Facebook page to register their disquiet, but Conservative opposition councillor Keith Cockburn (Tweeddale West) said that, based on the weather predictions, it had been a “good judgement call”.

“Far better to be safe than sorry,” he added.