GOVERNMENT GRIT FIASCO COULD PUT KIRKLEES IN A SPIN

10.04.00pm GMT Fri 19th Feb 2010

Kirklees is receiving around 20 tonnes a week but a full gritting of the priority routes currently uses approximately 60 tonnes.

The Government's arrangements for distributing salt to Local Authorities is putting Kirklees at risk of coming to a standstill if cold weather returns, says Cllr Nicola Turner (Lib Dem, Colne Valley Ward).

The Government is currently centrally controlling the distribution of salt to Local Authorities with stocks in the main being reserved for essential usage like motorways, ports and strategic routes.

At present Kirklees is receiving around 20 tonnes a week but a full gritting of the priority routes currently uses approximately 60 tonnes.

Cllr Nicola Turner said:

"Kirklees is one of the highest Local Authorities in England and Wales and should be receiving more grit than less vulnerable areas"

"At the moment we are getting 20 tonnes week which is a joke. And if we get another bad cold snap like Black Wednesday when all roads were turned into skid pans we're going to be left totally exposed. There's no grit in the grit bins at present so people can't rely on them and won't be able to do for some time according to the council"

"I can understand the Government's desire to take care of airports and motorways, but Kirklees, due to its position on the edge of the Pennines, surely deserves more grit than some other areas which are lower lying with less rural roads and communities? We need the Leadership of the Council to make the authorities case to the Government and demand more supplies. They currently run the risk of making local people frustrated and angry at the idiotic way the matter is being handled."