As the big freeze tightens its grip there is an animated discussion continuing on a number of websites about the vexed question of gritting.
On Look East this lunchtime an ‘old aged pensioner’ (who looked nothing of the sort)complained that people in her road had been unable to drive to the supermarket due to the fact that there is a slight incline at the junction with the main road which has become so slippery and icy that forward propulsion by motor cars has become impossible.
The solution is of course to site a pile of grit close to said incline and recruit volunteers (yes, volunteers) to spread the grit over the ice.
Babergh this evening has been quick to point out that ‘Babergh are not a salting and snow clearing authority’. As a councillor, and looking out of the window, I have to say that my first response to this is ‘thank goodness for that! However, moving swiftly on...
The responsibility for gritting the roads lies with Suffolk County Council, who are of course the Highways Authority (wrongly in my view, but that is another question). Suffolk County Council will provide roadside grit heaps and bins on request from parish councils so that people can treat local trouble spots which would otherwise go untreated. It may be too late to meet problems created by the current situation, and most of Waldingfield and Acton, it has to be said, is pretty flat, but if you spot a trouble spot near you do get in touch with me, or with the parish council, before the next spell of arctic weather. We may be able to arrange for some grit to be provided!
