Frosty response to winter maintenance

Balancing many and varied priorities has never been particularly easy for our local authorities. In these times of austerity, with multi-millionpound savings required, that challenge has got a whole lot more difficult.

One of the biggest problems they face, given the uncertain nature of the Great British weather, is winter maintenance.

Should a council overspend in anticipation of bad conditions, only to be left with a “salt mountain” when the weather is better than feared? Or should they minimise spending and hope for mild conditions?

It has always been a tricky conundrum and, with less cash than ever to spread around, it is unlikely to get any easier in the years to come.

Sadly, according to many local people, councils singularly failed to meet expectations as icy conditions struck for the first time this season.

Nobody can blame local authorities for the recent big freeze, but some feel the response could have been better.

While it appears roads have largely been maintained well, pavements have often been treacherous at best. There is an onus on pedestrians to take sensible precautions, but some routes simply have not been passable – even with care.

The plummeting temperatures have provided a stern early test for our councils – it is to be hoped lessons are being learned.