Early start for Kirkfieldbank protest walk tomorrow

It will leave from Kirkfieldbank Primary School at 8.45am.

The walk is being organised by Kirkfieldbank mum Julia Marrs, angry at South Lanarkshire Council classifying the Brae as a safe route for children as it changes its policy of providing free school buses to senior pupils.

Pupils will now have to live three miles away from their school, rather than two, to qualify for the bus, and that means pupils from Kirkfieldbank will be expected to walk to Lanark Grammar.

South Lanarkshire carried out assessments of routes pupils would be expected to use to the four high schools in Clydesdale, and ruled out certain areas, particularly in Carluke.

But the Brae, a steep twisting road with a narrow pavement, was not regarded as unsafe.

Julia says that the Brae is “well known to be dangerous for adults, let alone children to walk”, in terms of personal safety as well as traffic.

The walk was originally planned for a Friday, but she was contacted by people working during the day and wanting to take part, and by school pupils also keen to be involved.

“They will be at the sharp end if this goes ahead,” said Julia.