Shropshire school raises 'serious concerns' after council deems canal towpath 'safe route' for pupils to walk
A school has called on Shropshire Council to review its decision that a canal towpath is a 'safe route' for pupils to walk home.
Last week Shropshire Council wrote to a number of parents from the village of Weston Rhyn, whose children attend the nearby St Martins School.
Up until now pupils who live in Weston Rhyn and attend the school have been provided with transport to and from the school - because the route had been assessed as "unsafe" for children walking home.
But the council has now deemed a new route as 'safe' for 'accompanied' pupils to use - along the canal towpath.
The route deemed safe by the council takes youngsters from Rhosweil Canal Bridge, along the canal towpath, before joining St Martins Road.
The decision sparked dismay from local councillor Carl Rowley, and now St Martins School has outlined its own concerns.
The school has highlighted safety worries about walking along a narrow, unlit towpath, as well as the fact it is not a local authority maintained footpath - and could be shut by the Canal & River Trust at any time.
A statement from the school said: "St Martins School has serious concerns about Shropshire Council’s decision to reclassify a canal towpath between Weston Rhyn and the school as a “safe” walking route, a change that removes future eligibility for free school transport.
"While existing pupils will retain transport until the end of Year 11, the school is concerned about the use of a canal towpath, as it is not a highway, not a public right of way, and is not maintained by the Local Authority. It is owned and controlled by the Canal & River Trust and could be closed at any time.
"The school is concerned about the safeguarding implications of a daily route alongside deep, unfenced water on a narrow, unlit towpath. It also has serious concerns about the lack of transparency and public scrutiny surrounding the decision.
"St Martins School is calling on Shropshire Council to review the classification of the route, clearly explain the legal basis for its decision, and work openly with schools, councillors, and families to ensure transport decisions are robust, and put children’s safety first.
"The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is our absolute priority, and we will continue to advocate on behalf our families."
Shropshire Council has been contacted for comment about the school's concerns.
When Councillor Rowley raised the issue earlier this week, Andy Hall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said: "Shropshire Council recently commissioned an independent reassessment of the walking routes between Weston Rhyn and St Martins School. This review confirmed that while the original roadside route remains unsuitable, an alternative route has been identified which provides an available walking route for accompanied pupils in line with our statutory duty.
“Importantly, this update does not affect any children currently receiving free transport on historic unsafe route grounds, whose entitlement will continue until the end of Year 11. The revised assessment simply ensures that future applications are assessed using the most up-to-date information and supports our policy to maintain fairness and consistency across the county."
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