School walking routes to be reassessed

North Lanarkshire’s assessment of school walking routes is to be updated to include new analysis of areas’ accident histories and safe roadcrossing opportunities.

Councillors had called for a review of the safe routes criteria in December, agreeing that “an updated policy be developed and introduced, which places child safety as the number one priority” and committing to “a wide- ranging review of the criteria to examine additional core factors including volume of traffic, speed, air pollution and whether it is appropriate to [ assume] that a child will be accompanied by a parent”.

It came amid cont roversy surrounding unpopular school transport proposals – which were later dropped – to reduce eligibility to include only pupils living two miles from their primary school and three miles from secondaries.

Members of the council’s infrastructure committee unanimously agreed the “improved” criteria, using West of Scotland road safety forum guidance by adding the assessment of suitability of crossing points and threeyear accident histories.

SNP member Fiona Fotheringham said: “We all agreed the policy wasn’t fit for purpose and welcomed the opportunity to sit with officers and come up with a positive report. Constituents spoke out and we’ve done something positive about it.”

The council motion had asked about the assumption that children are accompanied by an adult when walking to school, but the report concluded: “Having reviewed the approach, it is considered that this is an essential principle upon which assessment can operate.

“Each child will develop the ability to make a journey to school at different ages. Given this, the council sets out a process of assessing a walked route on the basis that the parent/guardian or carer determines at what age their child can make a journey on their own.”

Coatbridge councillor Kirsten Larson noted: “I don’t think it’s always the case that children are accompanied, and I don’t think people realise that’s the expectation.”

Fellow town representative Tom Castles enquired about safety at times when crossing patrollers are not in attendance, saying: “Some extremely busy roads are safe with a lollipop person being there, but young adults at secondary may be going early or late and crossing when that person isn’t there.”

He was advised that crossing assessments can be requested, while councillors were also told that pollution is monitored via existing air quality management procedures.

We all agreed the policy wasn’t fit for purpose