Ron Oatham has been busy liaising between the Town Council and the County Council regarding gritting.
The County Council didn’t think that ‘chucking salt’ (their words) on the roads leading to Downhall School would do anything but they did say yesterday they would see if the ice could be physically removed by local highways rangers.
The County Council does not intend to replenish salt bins at the moment as they are conserving their salt supplies.
They will consider the removal of salt bins next year but this depends on the feedback they get from the parishes on the success or otherwise of the salt bag scheme
The County will only salt major roads and major bus routes.
Sita has been working with County to salt Rayleigh High Street and were given additional salt by the County to do this.
As the tonne of salt being given to Rayleigh Town Council is loose (not bagged) it can only be wheelbarrowed away which means it unlikely to go too far from the town centre.
The County will give Parishes ?120 to purchase equipment such as shovels, a salt spreader, high visibility jackets etc.
I spoke with Highways area office yesterday about the state of both Downhall Park Way and Brooklyn Drive, they said an inspector would be sent to assess the roads, but I was told pavements are not a priority…. Am I missing the point… these roads both lead to a primary school where road safety is taken seriously and lessons were recently given to the children on the importance of road safety.. If pavements leading to schools are not made a priority then parents are forced to walk their children in the road or risk serious injury… The school are powerless to do anything, they are not allowed to clear the pavements, nor would they have enough sal/grit to do it, they need to keep the school grounds clear. There are no grit bins in Downhall Park Way, perhaps one situated at the top end near the school would be a very good idea, I am sure local parents would willingly spread the grit, I know I would. I was told A and B roads were priority with everything else falling into line behind…I know grit and salt stocks are limited because of cut backs but school routes and town centres should be made priority, what is the point of keeping main roads flowing if you get to your desitnation and then fall over on the pavements that haven’t been cleared!!!!
DHPW resident – it’s no better from the Teignmouth Road end either – the pavement (and road) is still sheet ice