Concern raised over council’s winter grit programme

Members of Westport Belmullet MD have asked for piles of grit to be left at strategic locations around the district in the event of frost during the upcoming winter season. Cllr Chris Maxewll said people were already concerned about the sideroads and hilly territories which tend to be badly affected, meaning people can’t get out while children can’t be transported to school.

MD Head, Seamus O’Mongain confirmed that in an extended cold spell the council will place grit strategically in stockpiles around the area for people to avail of, adding: “However, when we did this last year, in many cases the grit was never touched at all so it will only be used if we are facing into a significant cold snap. The locations are selected based on road priority and our resources of management, equipment and salt stocks, and in terms of volumes of traffic, with bus routes being a priority.” 

Achill councillor Paul McNamara said the council’s gritting plan only covered national and some regional roads and charged: “So as far as the winter programme goes, none of the roads in my area are included, so we are only waffling here. What is really on the winter programme is, we are not going to do the local roads, if we are talking about the area I represent, so no salt. A lot of elderly people live on these roads and get home help and are dependent on home help.

“Last year we didn’t have much frost but two to three years ago we did and there was absolute chaos on the local roads and we have learned nothing from that.” 

He added that alternative methods need to be looked at and that there are plenty of subcontractors in the municipal district and it would only take a phone call to arrange for some of them to run around for three to four days at the most, to grit the roads and save people so much inconvenience.

Cllr John O’Malley asked for the Glenhest Road from Newport to be included in the gritting programme, saying it was a very dangerous roads that is used a lot by school buses.

Seamus O’Mongain stated: “In the event of a cold snap we look to be as responsible as we can with areas badly hit but we can’t put all roads on the programme as we don’t have the resources. One main factor is the fact a lot of Mayo is on the coast and the temperature does not drop as much as it does inland. Salt residue in the air is also considered to be part of this and that is based on science.” 

Cllr O’Malley quipped: “I think that is BS science. There is nothing like experience, the sea is south of me and north of me and you would slip off it as quick as off any road. Saying it doesn’t freeze near the sea is a load of bunkum and I can prove that to anyone. Once it goes below zero you are into a frost situation.”