Tow-paths still on child walking routes policy

A proposal to remove canal tow-paths from Shropshire Council's safe walking routes policy for children has been defeated.

Parents in Weston Rhyn were unhappy earlier this year when the authority said it was removing free bus travel as 1.2 miles (1.9km) of canal had been reassessed and considered safe.

Reform UK councillor Carl Rowley put forward a motion and stated on Thursday that "canal tow-paths present risks".

But it was defeated at a full council meeting, during which Liberal Democrat Sam Walmsley said there was "as clear a risk" on pavements next to roads "as there is on a canal tow-path".

For nearly 40 years, pupils had had free transport from Weston Rhyn to St Martin's School in the Oswestry area, as the tow-path route had been deemed "unsafe" for children, Local Democracy Reporting Service has previously stated.

The Lib Dem-controlled council told parents any new pupils would no longer receive transport, but following a backlash later said it would reconsider.

Rowley said characteristics of tow-paths included "unfenced watercourses... seasonal flooding... low-light conditions, shared use with cyclists and limited access for emergency services".

He added: "These are not hypothetical risks. These are inherent features of tow-paths."

The councillor said the Department for Education did not recognise canal tow-paths as safe walking routes "in its home to school transport guidance".

He added RoSPA [The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents] guidance was "clear that for a route to be considered safe, it must be properly maintained and managed by [a] local highway authority".

"Canal tow-paths do not meet this test," Rowley stated.

Walmsley told the meeting: "A slip, a trip or jostling from other pupils could easily put a child in front of a car.

"Shropshire Council should not unnecessarily restrict its options in finding the best route for children to walk to school."

Thirty eight voted against the motion, 21 were for and there were five abstentions.

Addressing the St Martin's tow-path route, portfolio holder for children and education Andy Hall said the council had written to parents to update them that a review was under way.

He added: "We will have confirmed that any changes have been delayed until at least September 2027 if they come into effect at all following the review."

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