The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
A&E filling up as residents fall victim to icy paths.
Councils under fire for response to recent cold snap
Accident and emergency departments have seen a “significant increase” in patients with broken bones as icy pavements continue to take their toll.
The Courier has been inundated with messages from people criticising our local councils’ response to freezing conditions, and Ninewells Hospital A&E consultant Dr Barry Klaassen confirmed staff are being kept busy dealing with the consequences of untreated routes.
He said: “We are still seeing a significant increase in the number of patients attending our emergency departments with broken bones, mainly due to falls caused by the icy conditions.
“If people do need to venture out during this very cold period, we would advise them to dress warmly, wear sensible shoes with a good grip and take extra care when walking on icy surfaces.”
A number of people were hurt in accidents on the road into Tentsmuir Country Park on Sunday, and in Dundee – where councillors voted to reduce salt levels this year to cut costs – locals have voiced frustration over untreated ice.
Rose Cox, from Dundee, was visiting Tentsmuir when her car skidded on the “horrendous” road and hit a tree. On the same stretch of road, a woman suffered a broken sternum after her parked car was struck by a skidding vehicle.
Forest Enterprise Scotland, which is responsible for the road from the Rhynd Café to Tentsmuir, said the stretch was closed following sudden freezing.
Ken MacDougall, 70, slipped on the road outside his home on Logie Avenue, Dundee, and said the lack of gritting was concerning. “The pavements are a disgrace. I’m quite angry. There are a lot of older people living in this area so for it to be so icy here is not good,” he said.
In October, councillors agreed to reduce this year’s salt to 8,200 tonnes – down from 10,000 tonnes – to cut costs.
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said 14 frontline gritters and 20 pavement gritters have been out across the city.
Derek Crowe, senior manager at Fife Council, said there had been no cut to gritting levels this year but “it simply isn’t possible to treat all roads, footways and car parks simultaneously”.
The pavements are a disgrace. I’m quite angry. DUNDEE RESIDENT KEN MACDOUGALL