Over the past few weeks both Joani Reid MP and Màiri McAllan MSP have written to South Lanarkshire Council on behalf of our community, seeking transparency and accountability regarding the decision to remove school transport for Sandford pupils travelling to Strathaven Academy.
Both letters raised serious safety concerns about:
• The unlit 60 mph road
• No safety barriers or crossings
• Narrow and uneven footpaths — including the bridge mid-way point which is used as a slip road and parking area, not a pavement
• Blind bends and poor driver visibility
• The impact on young pupils and those with ASN, expected to walk in all weather with no public transport alternative
📩 The Council’s response from David Hinshelwood (Interim Head of Education) to both the MP and MSP was identical to the reply issued to me earlier in the campaign — confirming:
• The route was last assessed on 22 August 2025, in favourable weather and daylight
• Lighting, barriers, and extreme weather are not factors in their safety assessments
• The route is deemed “suitable” and no further review or site visits are planned
• Responsibility for safety lies with parents to ensure children are accompanied if necessary
☎️ I have since been contacted by a Council representative seeking clarification on community concerns.
During that call, I raised key issues including:
• Path width, proximity to fast traffic, blind bends, ice and spray hazards, and lack of lighting/barriers
• The well-being impact — children arriving cold, wet, and tired, affecting their readiness to learn
• The attainment and equality concerns — families forced to buy extra uniforms or reduce working hours to supervise travel, directly contradicting the Council’s own Cost of the School Day policy.
👉 I also invited the Council to join us on a walk of the route, so they can see first-hand the daily risks and conditions children would face.
👧 In addition, we have contacted the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, regarding the Council’s handling of this issue and the implications under the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 — particularly around child safety, equality of opportunity, and children’s right to be heard.
📚 We continue to press for full transparency, accountability, and a reassessment that reflects real-world conditions — dark mornings, wet weather, and winter visibility.
🙏 Thank you again to everyone who has shared experiences, completed our community survey, and kept this issue in the spotlight. Your voices are driving this forward.
🔗 Petition: https://www.change.org/SandfordSafety
#SandfordSafety #SchoolTransport #ChildSafety #Accountability #SouthLanarkshireCouncil #UNCRC #EqualAccessToEducation #Transparency