THE Roads Service have come under fire from public representatives amid claims that many rural roads were virtually impassable during the recent heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Newry and Armagh MLA William Irwin and Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd both called on Road Service to review the list of roads that require winter gritting.
Mr Irwin praised the Roads Service workers who have been working around the clock to grit road
s, but claimed the authority “simply cannot keep up with the demand for grit”.
demand
He explained, “I have been on the phone with the Roads Service depot every day since the freezing temperatures began and it is clear that Roads Service simply cannot keep up with the demand for grit.
“There have been real problems in the rural areas where businesses have been affected as heavier machinery and lorries have jackknifed on road ways and milk lorries have been unable to get to farmers. These issues highlight the difficulties people have faced.
"In the more residential areas grit boxes remain empty and people have no access to salt, in fact I have had a few cases where people went out and bought their own bags of rock salt to salt the roads.
“There clearly needs to be a better system put in place whereby if a cold spell is forecasted that grit boxes are replenished and plenty of grit is left on the smaller roads so that people can scatter it themselves."
Mr O’Dowd complimented the gritting teams who have kept main routes open during the continuing cold snap.
However, he added, “While accepting that it would be physically impracticable and financially prohibitive to grit all roads I believe that a review of the roads within Upper Bann, listed for gritting is needed.
“The growth in business, retail and housing, developments and resultant increase in traffic, within the area has resulted in minor roads becoming main commuter and shopping routes and as such it is important that they are kept open.”
The criticism from both councillors comes as a local resident contacted the Portadown Times this week to complain that ‘B’ roads close to Annaghmore where she lives, had been left ungritted.
“My car has ended up in the hedge six times - it’s like driving on a sheet of ice,” she said.
The woman then explained that she had been unable to leave her home for four days during the festive period due to the treacherous driving conditions. “There used to be grit boxes in the area but now there are none.
“Shops and garages in the area have sold out of salt so we can’t even help the situation ourselves,” she said.
“Surely if we pay rates then we should be supplied with grit boxes.”
What do you think? Text your views to 81800, starting your message with PTTEXT.
