Update – 26 November 2025

Since our community walkthrough on Monday, supported by MSPs and a local councillor, we have had another serious near-miss on the Sandford–Strathaven road.

A resident hit ice on the downhill section before the bridge, slid down the carriageway, spun 180°, and ended up facing the wrong way. She said:

“If there was a car coming the other way, I would be dead.”

This is the same route South Lanarkshire Council expects children — some just 11 years old — to walk twice daily.

At the same time, the Council has issued a new written response which:

❌ Re-states the route is “safe”

❌ Refuses to consider winter conditions or visibility

❌ Takes no responsibility for maintaining safety

❌ Provides no plan for footpath winter treatment

❌ Ignores new evidence and recent incidents

This contradicts:

Our community survey (96% say the route is unsafe)
An independent civil engineer’s report describing the path as unsafe
Photographic and video evidence of flooding, ice and poor path condition
Concerns raised by MSPs and councillors who walked the route with us

I have written back today to challenge the Council’s stance and request urgent answers about winter safety, accountability and the continued designation of this as a “safe walking route”.

All of this has now been submitted to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman as part of my ongoing complaint.

We will continue pushing until Sandford’s children, now and in future, can travel to school safely and fairly.

Thank you for standing with us.

📎 Petition link to share widely: https://www.change.org/SandfordSafety