Welsh Conservatives have welcomed a commitment by the Local Government Minister to look again at the safety of routes to school.

An eventual commitment to make a statement on the issue was made in response to a series of oral questions from South Wales West Assembly Member Suzy Davies.

It follows the recent case of an 11 year old boy from Swansea who faced a three mile walk to school along a route deemed unsafe by police. Tomos James, from Bonymaen, does not qualify for free school transport.

In a recent separate incident, a schoolgirl was subjected to an distressing incident in an underpass in Carmarthen while walking along a route deemed safe by the council.

The Welsh Government is currently reviewing the safety of school transport but – until this week – had made no commitment to setting out its position on walking and cycling routes for children.

Suzy Davies AM, who obtained the commitment from the Minister, said:

"It’s clear from recent cases that a council’s definition of safe is way, way off the mark, even if it is within Welsh Government guidelines.

"It beggars belief that designated routes can take some of the twists, turns and tracks that have recently been publicised.

"Existing guidance is out of date and I am pleased that the Minister has finally agreed to look at this issue and make a long overdue statement to the Assembly.

"I will now be meeting the Children’s Commissioner to seek his support on what constitutes safety."

Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:

"This is a critically important matter and it’s a shame that the Minister required so much pressure to agree to a statement.

"I sincerely hope this is the first step in far greater movement on the issue.

"Child safety when walking or cycling to school is equally as important as safety on school transport."