Worth their salt?

Given that there is a severe shortage of finance available for health, education, police and fire services within Scotland, is it surely not time that councils reviewed their roadsalting programmes?

The application of salt to a previously dry, grippy and therefore safe road surface is counterproductive to road safety as the salt draws in damp air, creating a greasy and therefore slippery surface.

Yet despite this and a forecast for mild weather, after just one morning of very light frost the Scottish Borders Council were out salting on Sunday 29 October in a temperature of 7c! Whereas all other industries are, quite correctly, subject to strict anti-pollution guidelines it seems that councils have an unlimited licence for state sponsored vehicle corrosion and hedgerow and dykeback oversalination.

JOHN NISBET Auchencrow Mains, Reston