South Lanarkshire Council has now issued its final Stage 2 complaint response, and it confirms what we have feared all along.

In writing, the Council states that:

- Routes can be deemed “safe” for children to walk
- Transport can be withdrawn on that basis
- Those same routes do not require winter gritting
- Ice, frost and winter conditions do not make a route unsafe
- Parents are expected to manage the risk themselves

Even after a Council motion was passed in December calling for better maintenance of safe walking routes, the Council confirms:

➡️ There will be no change to winter gritting policy
➡️ No additional mitigation for children walking in winter
➡️ No further action

Let that sink in.

A route can be officially “safe”, yet knowingly left untreated, icy and hazardous during the school year, and children are still expected to walk it.

This is no longer a misunderstanding or poor communication.  It is a deliberate policy position.

We are now escalating this beyond the Council and continuing to pursue safer alternatives, including engagement with local bus operators.

Calling something “safe” does not make it safe.
And repeating policy does not remove responsibility.

🖊️ Sign and share the petition

https://www.change.org/SandfordSafety

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#SandfordSafety
#SafeRoutesToSchool
#WordsVsReality
#ChildSafetyFirst