Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Braving cold to show dangers of walking
Determined Monklands parents and children braved bitterly cold conditions to take to the streets and highlight the “safety concerns” found on proposed new school walking routes.
Controversial changes to free school transport provision could see some pupils having to walk up to an hour to get to school from their homes as eligibility limits change to include only those youngsters living more than two miles from their catchment primary and three miles from secondary.
Two separate protest walks were held last week; one from Gartcosh to St Barbara’s Primary School in Muirhead, and the other between Chapelhall and Airdrie’s Caldervale High School.
Airdrie South councillor Paul Di Mascio took part in the latter walk and told the Advertiser afterwards: “We passed four primary schools en route to highlight some of the issues with these proposed changes.
“This walk took fully grown adults one hour to complete, in dark and dangerous conditions.
“During this walk it became crystal clear that there were safety issues on the pathways, particularly where young children are involved.
“I was fearful at times, particularly on the A73/Carlisle Road section; with speeding traffic it takes just a slight nudge or loss of footing before a terrible accident could occur with traffic going by at such speed.”
Councillor Di Mascio added: “I can assure people that I am vehemently against any changes to the current policy in terms of reduction in entitlement to kids’ school travel arrangements at either primary or secondary schools.
“Parents wanted to walk the route from Chapelhall joint campus primary schools to Caldervale High School in protest and to highlight the ludicrous nature of the safety concerns, which are almost too many to mention.
“I would encourage people to show their support for the campaign against these proposed changes.
“It is vitally important that people register their thoughts via both separate consultation documents.”
Mum Angela Williamson was joined by around 70 other parents and children during the Gartcosh to Muirhead walk and revealed: “We wanted to bring some attention to the proposed cutbacks to the service and restrictions on qualified routes.
“The walk had a very good turnout and everyone was very passionate about raising awareness of the difficulties these proposals will create.
“These range from the distance the children will need to walk and the poor bus service here, to people having to change their childcare arrangements.
“The icy conditions really emphasised the potential dangers our children could be confronted with walking to school and it was very tricky negotiating the route.”