Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared our petition so far. Your continued support means a great deal to the families in Sandford.

This week we held a roundtable meeting at Sandford Village Hall, bringing together community representatives, members of the Sandford Safety First campaign, Sandford Community Council, Climate Action Strathaven and local bus operators to discuss the ongoing concerns surrounding the route pupils must take to travel between Sandford and Strathaven Academy.

We are grateful to MSPs Màiri McAllan and Brian Whittle, Cllr Elise Frame, our community council representatives and the local bus operators who attended and contributed to a constructive discussion about potential solutions and wider public transport connectivity for the area.

However, we were disappointed that South Lanarkshire Council did not attend, despite being invited. Initially we were advised no one was available, and when pressed further, we were told the council’s position had not changed and their decision was final.

As a campaign committee, we had hoped to discuss the issue face-to-face, allowing the council to hear directly from the community, understand the concerns first-hand and work collaboratively to explore what options might be possible.

At the heart of this campaign are the safety and wellbeing of our children. Pupils are currently expected to walk along sections of national speed limit road with narrow paths, poor lighting and blind bends, something many parents feel is simply not safe.

We also continue to highlight that a motion passed in September called for the West of Scotland school route safety guidance to be independently reviewed, yet this review has still not taken place, meaning decisions continue to rely on guidance many believe is outdated.

Our campaign continues.

Please continue to sign and share the petition so we can ensure the voices of the Sandford community are heard and that a safe, practical solution is found for our children.

Together, we can make a difference.

#SandfordSafety #SchoolTransport #CommunityCampaign