Is this a safe route for a child to walk to and from school? Highland Council thinks so
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A half-mile of twisty, single-track road with blind spots and busy with cars and trucks is deemed suitable for young children to walk, according to Highland Council.
Offshore worker Innes Sutherland, who lives with his family at Achalone, near Halkirk, has been arguing the point with Highland Council for nine months and failing to get a satisfactory result, asked the paper to come and see the route his 12-year-old daughter has to walk to and from the school bus.
"There's a lot of general traffic with cars, delivery vans, HGVs, and there's two quarries nearby – Banniskirk and Spittal – with lorries passing through as well," Mr Sutherland said.
"Highland Council have done up the road a bit recently but if there are two HGVs coming down the road there's no room at all. There's no street lighting and no pavement – just very poor visibility overall."
The issue concerns his daughter Isla's trip to and from the Thurso High School bus in which she walks approximately half-a-mile along a very twisted, narrow road that has blind summits and shrubs that can easily disguise a child.
The S1 pupil regularly walks to and from the bus drop-off point at the T junction of the Harpsdale and Achalone roads, and admits to finding it a bit "scary". She also worries it will be even worse later in the year when the darker nights and mornings come in. A steady stream of cars and vans were observed using the road when we visited on Wednesday afternoon and water was frequently thrown up from pools on the surface. Shrubs, blind corners and dips in the road also added to the dangers.
When her father contacted the council to see if anything could be done to improve child safety, perhaps by constructing a path, it sent out an officer to assess the route – her report, however, deemed it acceptable. A Highland Council spokesperson told the paper: “While we cannot comment on individual pupil circumstances, we can confirm that the council’s School Transport Policy states that: ‘Transport will not necessarily be provided door-to-door. Routes are designed as far as practicable to avoid excessive journey times for the furthest pupils and to be cost-effective. Pupils may be required to travel up to the statutory walking distances (2 miles under age 8; 3 miles for age 8 and over) to/from a pick-up/drop-off point.’
The council spokesperson added: “It is a parental responsibility to ensure that pupils get to the pick-up point [or to school if not eligible for transport]. If the route has been assessed as suitable for walking [within the distance limits], the council has no duty to provide transport.”
When Mr Sutherland was shown the council response he said: "I'm flabbergasted that after a member of Highland Council walked the route, the conclusion is that it is an acceptable walking route for a child – it really beggars belief.
"I really do think that they are missing the point. It's not about the distance my child has to walk, it is about the nature of the terrain she is walking on which is totally unsuitable and dangerous in my opinion and many others."
Mr Sutherland said he wondered if the council members behind the "crazy idea" would be happy if their own children had to walk the route every morning/evening in the midst of winter?
"I think not – no responsible parent or guardian would be. I feel very strongly about this and I'm upset and angry at Highland Council's defiant stance on the issue and complete disregard for safety."
Mr Sutherland said he had helpful feedback on the issue from Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Struan Mackie, who said: "Ensuring that children are able to travel to and from school is fundamentally a safety matter and I am frustrated that the council appears very inflexible."
Councillor Mackie added: "There does not appear to be a clear process for appealing decisions, and I feel elected members must be able to influence these decisions on behalf of constituents.
"I understand that the council is hard-pressed for cash and that savings must be made but flexibility and pragmatism to deliver the safest possible routes to school must prevail."
Mr Sutherland vowed to continue arguing the issue, not only for his daughter but also "for all the other rural kids" who have to face these daily dangers.
