Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Council replies to icy criticisms
Parents and road users not impressed
Council leader Jim Logue has defended the local authority’s response to the latest cold snap to hit Monklands following school closures and complaints about ungritted streets.
Friday’s heavy snowfall saw every school in Airdrie and Coatbridge close early after a Met Office warning.
The wild wintry conditions added to the snow and ice already present on many roads and pavements across Monklands, with Airdrie MP Neil Gray claiming his constituents were “disappointed with the council’s efforts to keep roads clear”.
Shortly after Friday morning’s announcement that schools would close at 1pm that day, the Advertiser’s Facebook community hit out at the timing of the council’s decision.
Ross Devine said: “NLC haven’t a clue! Open when weather was far worse and wait until parents are at work to give 90 mins notice as most primaries close at 12pm.
“Communication from them has been shocking.”
Amy McLelland agreed: “The amount of parents having to rush out of work with no notice! Roads were full of cars driving to the schools.
“Bit more notice would have been nice...”
Julie Hendry posted: “I’m glad I never sent my son and feel sorry for parents who are in a panic trying to get home to get their kids with only a few hours’ notice.”
Mr Gray also slammed the council’s handling of the recent winter weather, claiming council staff unable to get to work were told they were to either lose a day’s pay or take holidays to cover it.
He said: ”North Lanarkshire Council is responsible for keeping non-motorway roads clear and safe for people to travel.
“My constituents are disappointed with the council’s efforts to keep roads clear with the recent snow and ice.
“However, I am sure we can all understand if, during periods of really heavy snow, they cannot keep up.
“If the council leadership hopes we can understand that, I am sure they can understand their own staff being unable to get to work because of the snow as it is unsafe to travel. “I am shocked that this council has apparently told its staff to take holidays or lose pay if they can’t make it in because the council has been unable to keep the roads clear. “I could almost understand the approach if the snow was not clearly causing traffic chaos locally, and many accidents. “This needs to be looked at and these people should not have to pay the price for a poorly-managed council budget. “I know that some pavements were cleared with the small snowploughs but that i s only the tip of the iceberg; the roads, yet again, were a disgrace.
“The council needs to not only take a good look at how it copes in winter and adjust its processes accordingly, but also how it treats its staff who are impacted by the council’s own failings.”
The council hit back at Mr Gray’s claims about staff being told they’d lose pay or have to take a holiday if they couldn’t make it into work, with a spokesperson saying: “This is not a reasonable characterisation of our policy.
“We understand that employees may, at times, face difficulties in attending their place of work and returning home during periods of severe weather and we do not force anyone to take annual leave in these circumstances.
“However, as a provider of vital public services, the council must also ensure that disruption to its services remains minimal.
“Employees who are unable to attend work due to severe weather have a number of options which they can discuss with their line manager to cover those circumstances where it is impossible to travel.
“These include working from home, using accrued flexi time or making up the time over a period of weeks. An employee may also choose to take annual leave although we do not compel anyone to do so.
“If these options are not appropriate, paid leave will be granted.”
Council leader Mr Logue backed the local authority’s response to the wintry weather, commenting: “Across Scotland we have experienced significant snow and ice over a number of days, which has caused disruption on our roads.
“In North Lanarkshire, our gritters have been treating the road network around the clock which has kept our main roads across the area open, allowing residents to access public transport and get to and from work and home.
“We’ve also had staff out clearing pavements around sheltered housing complexes and schools.
“This is our priority during severe winter weather and, while we appreciate people’s concerns about conditions in residential streets, we simply do not have the resources to grit every street and pavement.
“We have over 2400 grit bins to allow people to help each other treat the area around their home.
“I would like to thank all staff who have worked throughout this bad weather to provide local services and help vulnerable residents.”