In some cases it was claimed parents were given ‘safe’ walking routes their youngsters could use which took them through unlit woods or along busy main roads and junctions. And some parents threatened to boycott the return to school on Thursday this week unless their transport was reinstated. Midlothian MP Kirsty McNeill has called on the local authority to pause changes to the school transport services after being flooded with complaints from local families. “This calculates the distance between a pupil’s home and school using recognised walking routes. Additionally, several routes previously designated as “safe walking routes” have been removed, and ongoing reviews are taking place regarding poor lighting and missing pavements.