More road salt after griticism

Transport chiefs have massively increased their orders for road salt after the recent cold snap reduced many of Scotland’s highways and pavements to treacherous ice rinks.

Drivers and pedestrians took to the internet to blast councils who appeared to have been caught off guard by the freezing weather.

But the authorities insist they have been gritting around the clock – and have now ordered double the extra stock of salt compared to last year.

Glasgow, Aberdeen, North and South Lanarkshire councils were all forced to defend themselves.

One woman blasted Glasgow City Council, saying: “North side of Glasgow is a total ice rink. Loads of pensioners and disabled people using sticks can’t walk and taxis and cars are sliding all over the place.”

Another wrote: “Get yourselves organised! It’s not like we don’t know winter is coming.”

A Glasgow spokesman said it had spread more than 1200 tons of grit in just four days, and kept the city’s 1400 salt bins full.

He said: “We appreciate people’s concerns, but they should be assured that we made every effort to reach as many areas as possible.”

Icy conditions led to multiple collisions in parts of Scotland yesterday with drivers in some areas advised to “stay at home”.

Now authorities have ordered a bumper 91,000 tons of salt to replenish their stocks.

At the moment local authorities and trunk road operating companies hold more than 500,000 tons of salt.