Winter gritting concerns

Impact on vulnerable highlighted

- CATHERINE HUNTER

Concerns over the implications of reducing West Dunbartonshire’s winter gritting programme on elderly and disabled residents have been raised by councillors.

The local authority's winter maintenance plan to ensure the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles during poor weather conditions has been reviewed and reduced the number of primary carriageway treatment routes from six to five.

Residential streets will still be treated where main bus routes operate to provide access to and from schools and will also take care of areas with steep inclines.

Footway gritting operations will no longer be carried out unless weather conditions such as snow clearance is required meaning operations will only be undertaken in response to severe weather.

A report presented to members of the Infrastructure Regeneration and Economic Development (IRED) committee highlights that there are more than 450 grit bins across the authority to help support residents.