Salt our footpaths and carparks, councillors demand

PEDESTRIANS are being largely forgotten in moves by local authorities to lessen the dangers posed by the big freeze, it was suggested this evening (Monday).

At a meeting of Mayo County Council, Ballina-based Independent Councillor Gerry Ginty said people were risking life and limb on unsalted footpaths and carparks.

Some of Mr. Ginty's colleagues agreed.

Councillor Michael Holmes said that earlier in the day he had seen somebody getting a bad fall at Main Street (Castlebar).

The Mulranny-based Independent said that mourners at a funeral in Castlebar over the weekend were slipping on icy footpaths at Chapel Street.

It wouldn't be a major job to salt the footpaths, he stated.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Blackie Gavin, who is Castlebar based, said he was witnessing people walking on roads because they were unable to walk on the footpaths.

The simple answer, he outlined, was to sprinkle more salt on footpaths.

Councillor Frank Durcan (Independent) claimed the council don't have enough outdoor staff to treat all footpaths.

“We have plenty office staff, too many,” he grumbled.

Councillor Michael Loftus (Crossmolina) and the cathaoirleach, Councillor Richard Finn, praised the road staff who had admirably carried out salting and gritting duties at all hours over the weekend.

Councillor Finn explained that 22 vehicles had been out on gritting duties throughout the county in the previous 36 hours.

Councillor Al McDonnell (Carnacon) said minor roads, despite a thaw, were still difficult, while Councillor John O'Hara (Bonninconlon) demanded that all roads where there are schoolbuses running should be salted.

Ballyhaunis-based FG Councillor John Cribben said the council had learned a lot from the harsh winter of 2010 and this year adequate supplies of salt had been stockpiled.

However, the councillor insisted, places such as Aughamore and Irishtown needed such stockpiles. A 'meitheal' community approach could be taken to spreading, he continued.

Councillor Christy Hyland (Westport) claimed greater stockpiling of salt was needed in rural areas and agreed with earlier speakers that more attention needs to be paid to footpaths and carparks.

Rounding off the discussion, the chief executive, Peter Hynes, said the authority had learned from 2010.

He thanked the gritter drivers who had worked in particularly hazardous conditions on Sunday night.

The council, Mr. Hynes continued, had an unofficial policy of placing grit at the disposal of local communities and that policy would be continued in the event of an extended freeze over Christmas.