Gritting shortfalls in North Mayo leave councillors frustrated
A number of shortfalls in Mayo County Council's gritting operations in the Ballina Municipal District were highlighted at the recent monthly meeting,
Fine Gael Cllr John O’Hara said he had received eight phone calls prior to the meeting on Wednesday at 10.30am about roads not gritted in North Mayo.
“I talked to a man going to Ballymote Mart from Killala and none of the roads were done but as soon as he hit the Sligo border, the roads were clear.
“This country is awash with money but there seems to be no money for salt. The Government doesn’t know what to do with all the money they have but I do,” he said.
Independent Cllr Joe Faughnan asked if the road to the national school in Knockmore could be gritted while Fianna Fáil Cllr Annie May Reape said she heard of two approach roads to Behy National School not gritted and understood school roads were supposed to be all covered under the Winter Management Plan.
Area engineer Orla Bourke said all of the main roads had been done and she could arrange for stockpiles to be sent out to any area that needs to be gritted.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Loftus said he was "delighted" to hear stockpiles were available in any area as he had been previously told that no salt stockpiles would be sent out for regional roads such as the R315.
The Crossmolina councillor suggested that the council "innovate" by allowing local farmers to spread salt stockpiles via spreading machines in their areas.
