Grit's not good enough

Julie Gilbert and Jamie Borthwick • Published 6 Jan 2010 15:00 2 Comments

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AS a shortage of grit for Clydebank's icy roads remained "critical" there has been anger after council officials found enough to treat their employee car parks.

West Dunbartonshire Council is being forced to ration its grit and was left with just enough for "one more treatment" of main roads at the time of going to print yesterday (Tuesday).

The situation has provoked accusations that the council has got its priorities wrong.

With the prospect of adequate supplies being replenished still uncertain, secondary roads, residential areas and footpaths are being left in treacherous condition.

Public grit bins are not even being stocked.

As pavements were left covered in snow, on top of days-old ice, one woman had to be taken to hospital after she slipped under a bus at a stop on Tuesday morning.

The elderly resident was helped by passers-by and treated at the scene after the difficult conditions caused her to fall and become trapped under the stationary vehicle on Kilbowie Road.

This article appeared in Clydebank Post 06 Jan 10

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Unregistered User
Jan 9, 08:14
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Why should the council salt the staff carpark when it cant salt areas which have a higher priority like pavements.

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alison forbes
Unregistered User
Jan 13, 11:36
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I think it is terrible that cut backs on gritting streets are on the political agenda. Does any of the bureaucrats working for them look into the cost that not carrying out this valuable work will cost in the long term with the NHS bill rising due to falls and car crashes. From what has been on the news lately the elderly are scared to go out, leading to food problems. I have seen people walking on the road as the pavements have about 2 inches of ice on them, this creates problems for them and drivers who are on black ice...you can imagine what this can and has resulted in. I have also seen council workers gritting their own residential area and I must agree, this does not happen often, with Salmond in that, like England, sand should be used if no grit, cheap and salty so it would work.

For future weather conditions an idea my mother mentioned was to have a grit bin in each street so that residents can salt their paths and surrounding areas. Although this would have an initial cost and need refilling in bad weather like the other grit bins it would ensure people were able to get out and also cut back on gritters time gritting streets off the main streets from each scheme.

Yours A. Forbes

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