We’ve received confirmation that our Freedom of Information (FOI) appeal about South Lanarkshire Council’s handling of the Sandford–Strathaven school transport information has been formally received by the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).

The case is now at the validation stage, which means the Commissioner’s office is reviewing all the documents and correspondence to make sure the legal requirements for a full investigation are met.

📄 During validation, the SIC checks:

- That our original FOI request and review were properly submitted,
- That the Council has given its final response,
- And that the reasons for our appeal are clearly set out and supported by evidence.

Once this stage is complete, the Commissioner will confirm whether the case can move forward to a formal investigation.

Our appeal challenges the Council’s failure to provide the key evidence behind its decision to remove school transport for Sandford pupils, including route assessments, meeting minutes, and safety documentation.

This step keeps the focus on transparency, accountability, and child safety, and ensures that every piece of information is properly scrutinised.

🙏 Thank you again to everyone who continues to support the campaign, share their experiences, and sign the petition. Your support is what keeps this moving forward.

We’ll update you as soon as the SIC confirms the next stage.

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

#SandfordSafety #SchoolTransport #Transparency #Accountability #SouthLanarkshireCouncil #FOI #ChildSafety #EqualAccessToEducation