Row over Comhairle’s gritting policy 8/12/11
Councillors have been arguing the effectiveness of the Comhairle’s new slimmed down, cost saving, restricted gritting policy after reports of cars, buses and trucks smashing off icy roads across the islands.
Even gritters have fallen victim to the first snowfall of winter with more than one
sliding into the ditch in recent days. In addition, school buses carrying young children
have been involved in accidents. In Pairc, the school bus was involved with a head-
At a council meeting on Wednesday, Uig councillor Norman Macleod suggested bus drivers should use common sense and assess the conditions before venturing out on the road. His comments received short shrift from coach firm boss and Westside councillor Iain Morrison who retorted that drivers were always keenly aware of their responsibilities. Mr Morrison highlighted roadways could easily be clear for miles but iced over at some distance down the route.
Despite calls to ditch the new policy and make changes, councillors eventually conceded
to leave things as there are for the moment anyway -
Bad timing: As the council met to debate its controversial new winter road salting policy, this gritter lorry went sliding off the the Grimshader road, North Lochs.
The council’s new policy:
Priority 1 -
Priority 2 -
Priority 3 -
Priority 4 -
Priority 5 -
On Sundays and local public holidays the times will be delayed by two hours.