Gritty lesson for town halls

UNLIKE the region's train operators who are, again, struggling to provide a snow and frost-resilient service, Yorkshire's local councils have clearly learned important lessons following the prolonged weather disruption earlier this year.

This is reflected by the increase preparedness of town halls across Yorkshire, and their ability to stockpile sufficient reserves of grit, before the big freeze took hold. For, while up to one third of Yorkshire's supplies of grit have been spread on the region's roads over the past 10 days, there is none of the panic that gripped the country at the turn of the year when key routes were untreated because of acute shortages.

This improved performance deserves to be acknowledged. Road safety is one of the statutory duties of local councils and the Highways Agency – and taxpayers have every right to expect a certain level of service.

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Of course, there are going to be difficulties – the record low temperatures in Yorkshire have nullified the effect of grit and salt on some roads – and led to some routes being closed that should otherwise have been open.

Nevertheless, Yorkshire's councils have, on the whole, responded well to the challenge, even though they are likely to remain on high alert for many days to come. However, further improvements can – and should – be made.

Town halls are going to have to consider their gritting policy for pavements and such like – too many busy shopping areas continue to be treacherous as the snow and slush turns to ice.

Equally, they need to show greater flexibility when it comes to side streets, including making it easier for local residents to acquire salt bins so they can treat their own roads. This, too, will help keep Yorkshire on the move at times of inclement weather.

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And, finally, this prolonged freeze – the second of 2010 – offers further evidence of the increased likelihood of extreme weather, and that it would be extremely short-sighted if gritting budgets were cut as a consequence of the Government's spending squeeze.

This is one policy area that needs to be preserved – at all costs – if the region is to continue to withstand Arctic-like conditions, or certainly until the train operators provide a service commensurate with that experienced on the Continent in freezing weather.

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