South Lanarkshire Council has withdrawn the dedicated school transport service for children travelling from Sandford to Strathaven Academy, following a mileage review.

This decision is unsafe, unfair, and short-sighted.

Why this matters:

The walking route runs alongside a 60mph main road, on a narrow, unlit path with no barriers to protect children from fast-moving traffic.

During winter, children will be forced to walk in dark, icy, and dangerous conditions.
Parents cannot be expected to provide a twice-daily taxi service, especially with work and family commitments.

Council tax continues to rise while essential services like school transport are cut, leaving families paying more but receiving less.
The decision also contradicts the Council’s environmental pledges — instead of safe, shared transport, dozens of extra cars will now be driving to and from the school each day, adding to congestion and emissions.

What we’re asking:

We call on South Lanarkshire Council to:

Urgently review this decision under the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum Guidance, which allows appeals on safety grounds:-

Breaches of Council Guidance

1. Walking Along a Footway – The guidance requires that a footway be continuous and adequate. The only available path from Sandford runs directly alongside a 60mph road, is narrow and unlit, and lacks protective barriers. This represents “unmanageable road safety difficulties” as set out in the guidance.
2. Traffic Speed and Composition – The guidance states that high traffic speeds and heavy vehicle use increase risk. This route carries significant fast-moving traffic, including HGVs, yet this appears to have been disregarded in their decision making.
3. Crossing Assessment – The guidance requires safe opportunities for children to cross roads. Along this route, there are no safe crossings and no assurance of safe traffic gaps, which should render the route “not acceptable.”
4. Survey Requirement – The guidance requires a site survey at school travel times. I have requested immediate confirmation of whether such a survey has been carried out, when, and by whom. If this has not been completed properly, the decision is invalid.

We need the council to understand and recognise that the Sandford–Strathaven Academy route is unsafe for children to walk and to reinstate free, safe, and reliable school transport for all eligible pupils.

No child should have to risk their life just to get to school.

Please sign and share this petition to protect the safety and wellbeing of Sandford’s children.