Following months of correspondence, South Lanarkshire Council has still failed to provide the key evidence used to claim that the Sandford–Strathaven walking route is “safe” for children walking to Strathaven Academy.

After two incomplete Freedom of Information (FOI) responses — neither of which disclosed route assessments, meeting minutes, or safety data — our request has now been formally escalated to the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) for independent investigation.

📄 

What We’ve Learned So Far

The council’s most recent review, signed by Interim Head of Education, David Hinshelwood, confirmed that:

The route was assessed only once, in daylight and favourable weather conditions on 22 August 2025.

There were no winter or low-light visibility checks,
No record of who carried out the assessment,
And no supporting documentation or risk data provided — despite repeated requests.

In the same response, the Council also stated that their Roads, Transportation and Fleet Services team now considers the assessment “complete” and that no further visits or reassessments are planned.

In other words — they refuse to walk the route again, yet expect children to do it five days a week in all conditions.

⚠️ 

Parents Continue to Raise Major Safety Concerns

❌ No lighting or protection barriers

❌ Narrow footpath directly beside 60mph traffic
❌ High-speed HGVs and blind bends
❌ No local bus services as an alternative
❌ Children as young as 11 — including those with ASN — expected to walk unaccompanied

If driver and pedestrian visibility are truly considered in assessments, they must be assessed in all weather and light conditions, not just a warm August morning.

🧒 

Education, Equity and the Attainment Gap

This decision has wider consequences beyond safety.

How can children be expected to arrive ready to learn after walking over two miles through wind, rain, and darkness — often soaking wet before their school day even begins?

This undermines the Council’s own policy on “Cost of the School Day”, which commits to ensuring every child in South Lanarkshire can access education equally, regardless of social or economic background.

Families now face increased costs for uniform replacements and extra clothing to manage the daily walk, while the policy itself suggests that parents can simply accompany children — a contradiction that assumes families can afford to reduce working hours, further impacting already stretched household finances.

This is neither equitable nor sustainable.

🔍 

Our Next Steps

This campaign has always been about transparency and child safety.

If the route is genuinely safe, the Council should have no issue publishing the full evidence behind that decision.

The case has now been formally escalated to the Scottish Information Commissioner, and we will provide updates once a determination is made.

We remain committed to ensuring every question is answered and that real safety — not box-ticking — guides future decisions.

🙏 

Thank You for Your Continued Support

Every parent, resident, and supporter who has shared experiences, signed the petition, or completed the community survey has helped strengthen the case and keep this issue in the spotlight.

Together, we’ll keep pushing for accountability, action, and change.

🔗 Petition: https://www.change.org/SandfordSafety

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/SandfordSafety

#SandfordSafety #SafeKidsNotBoxTicks #SouthLanarkshire #SchoolTransport #ChildSafety #Transparency #Equality #CostOfTheSchoolDay