Fewer grit bins may be provided as authority debates its winter priorities

Councillors in York will meet next week to debate priorities for gritting and keeping routes open in the snow and ice.

Council bosses are aiming to shave £60,000 off the £180,000 winter maintenance budget in 2014/15 and members will be told gritting the routes as last winter cannot be maintained.

However following public talks officers are recommending councillors back an option that will save £20,000, with possible further savings considered at a later date, in a move which would see more routes treated than originally proposed.

A report will be taken to a public decision session of York Council on Wednesday outlining proposals on winter gritting.

It says there are currently 400 grit bins owned by highways or ward committees but the ward committees are no longer able to support the 255 bins they provide. However it is proposed that the number of grit bins provided by highways is increased by 5 to 150.

In 2012/2013 363km of roads were classed as those that should be treated as a priority however it was suggested this should be reduced to 285km in 2013/2014. Following public talks the authority is now proposing some extra bus routes are gritted as a priority resulting in an extra 32km of routes being treated.

Of those who responded to the public talks, 82.9 per cent agreed with the council’s approach that priority should be given to areas in York where it is most needed.

When asked where they would like to see gritting priorities in the city, the majority of responses, 52.3 per cent, selected A roads like Fulford Road, with access for emergency services also being highlighted as important and the third most popular option was to prioritise frequent bus services, 28 per cent. This reflects the original proposal on gritting routes made by council officers.

The consultation also collected the contact details of residents who said they would be interested in becoming a snow warden and the council hopes to build on this popular initiative, which has so far attracted over 120 volunteers across the city.

Coun David Levene, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Throughout this review we have listened to residents and have made changes based on their feedback.”