Aberdare, Wales — A growing number of parents in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) are voicing strong opposition to proposed changes in school transport policy that would see children living three miles or less from their school lose access to free transport by September 2025. The move, driven by the Council’s decision to revert to statutory walking distances under Welsh Government policy, has ignited widespread concerns over child safety, parental burden, and a lack of transparency in the risk assessment process. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1211655150190004
The timing of this decision is politically sensitive, with many parents warning that the issue could become a major flashpoint in the run-up to the May 2026 Welsh Government elections.
“Almost all parents are against this idea,” said one concerned parent. “Our children’s safety is being compromised, and we were never asked to take part in the risk assessments. That’s unacceptable.”
Safety Assessments Raise More Questions Than Answers
Back in March 2024, the Council committed to reviewing school walking routes following the announcement that statutory distances would be reinstated. External assessors were brought in to evaluate routes based on Welsh Government guidelines, but parents argue the assessments failed to reflect real-world risks.
Under national guidance, councils are expected to assess whether children can walk safely to school either accompanied or alone, depending on age. However, many working parents say the assumption that children will be accompanied is unrealistic, especially for those juggling jobs, childcare, and other family responsibilities.
Crucially, the Welsh Government’s own operational guidance for risk assessments explicitly states that local authorities should ask parents or carers if they would like to accompany officers during route inspections — a key measure to allow families to demonstrate why a route might be unsafe.
“Did RCT Council ask us to accompany them? No. Not once,” said a local resident. “That’s a breach of the guidance. It’s not just disappointing — it’s potentially dangerous.”
A Disconnected Process?
So far, there is no clear evidence in the Council’s published documents to show that parents were invited to join officials during the walking route assessments. Independent evaluations focused on road safety, traffic levels, and crime data, but left out key contextual factors such as:
- Time taken to walk the route
- Weather conditions
- Topography (e.g., steep hills or rural paths)
- Children carrying heavy bags or equipment
- Parental availability due to work, disability, or family commitments
None of these were considered under the current guidance, and many routes were deemed “available” simply because they connect to main roads used by some pupils already.
Public Trust Eroding
This approach has angered many in the community, who believe that RCT Council has failed in its duty of care. Under the Children Act 2004, local authorities are obligated to work with safeguarding agencies to promote child well-being. That duty includes meaningful engagement with families and full consideration of social safety issues such as anti-social behaviour or areas where children report feeling unsafe.
“This isn’t just about logistics,” said one parent. “It’s about safety, dignity, and fairness — and it’s fast becoming a political issue.”
With the 2026 election on the horizon, some councillors may find themselves answering hard questions from parents who feel ignored and sidelined.
During the risk assessment process, a local authority should ask:
- Whether the learners/parents/persons exercising parental responsibility would
like to accompany the local authority representative considering the availability of
the route?
(Note: This often enables learners/parents/other persons to demonstrate exactly
why they consider a route to be unsafe).
RCTC Walking Routes Assessments
On 20th March 2024, the Council committed to reviewing those school walking routes, which would be impacted by the Home to School policy reverting to WG statutory distances from September 2025.
The walking routes have now been assessed with the assessments having been undertaken independently by an external organisation, using the criteria laid down by the Welsh Government Statutory Guidance for the Risk Assessment of Walked Routes to School.
In accordance with the Learner Travel Operational Guidance a route is considered to be available if it is safe for a learner to walk alone or, if appropriate for the age of the learner, accompanied by an appropriate adult.
All routes are assessed on the assumption that pupils are accompanied as necessary by a responsible person, but it is for a parent to decide whether or not a child needs supervision on their journey, and this is the parent’s/carer’s responsibility to arrange if they are unable to do it themselves.
In determining the comparative safety of a walking route, assessors consider the physical risks that escorting parents/carers and learners might encounter along the route between home and school.
Route assessments, including consideration of traffic counts, anti-social behaviour, and collision data, take place at the times of the day and on the days of the week that learners would be expected to use routes.
Assessments have been undertaken along the main roads to schools. Subsequent side roads that link into main roads have not been considered as they are deemed to be already available and in daily use by current learners.
It should be noted that the Guidance does not require consideration of the following:
- The topography of a route
- The weather conditions experienced along a route
- The time it takes to walk a route
- Pupils having to carry bags or equipment
- The parent’s or carer’s finances, occupation restrictions, age, health, or other sibling commitments
In this regard it remains the responsibility of the parent or carer to ensure their child attends school.
The Council must be consistent in how it assesses eligibility for free school transport, and therefore the independent assessments are considered final.
Any decisions made by Council Officers regarding Home to School transport entitlement will be based on the independent route assessments, subject to compliance with the information contained within, and in conjunction with the Welsh Government’s Learner Travel Operation Guidance.
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Another election year and RCT Council only increasing Council Tax by1% Why dont they have an election every year?
