The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Volunteers needed to grit Angus pavements
Council aims to slash footway gritters by half... and advertises for unpaid helpers
Angus will be forced to rely on an army of volunteer street-clearing footsoldiers this winter after plans to slash the number of footway gritters were revealed by the council.
Despite the so-called beast from the east wreaking havoc in local communities last winter, Angus Council has confirmed a 50% reduction in its fleet.
The move will leave towns like Brechin, Kirriemuir and Carnoustie with only one gritter, and villages such as Letham and Friockheim without any provision.
The authority plans to advertise for interest from community groups who would be given salt supplies, hi-viz vests and training for the role.
The proposals have sparked concern, with Monifieth and Sidlaws SNP councillor Beth Whiteside saying: “I can see problems with this, and for the amount of money they are planning to save it doesn’t make sense.”
Volunteers will form a defensive front line for Angus if the beast from the east returns with a vengeance this winter.
Following a decision to slash footpath clearing in local towns and villages to save money, plans have emerged to train an army of shovel-wielding locals for gritting and snow-clearing duties.
However, the plan has been criticised in rural areas such as the Sidlaws, which will be left without a footway gritter under the changes.
Angus Council has set aside £2.6 million to deal with whatever the approaching winter may bring, a similar sum to that earmarked for 2017-18.
However, some of the worst conditions seen in years blasted the budget apart with an £800,000 overspend.
Councillors have already approved halving the district’s mini-gritter fleet.
And a plan to deal with the reduction includes recruitment of local volunteers, who will be given a stock of salt and training to keep footpaths ice-free.
In a report going before the communities committee on Tuesday, head of infrastructure Ian Cochrane, says: “Given the reduction in footway treatment and noting that this is an area
could leave people struggling to get out to things like hospital. MONIFIETH AND SIDLAWS COUNCILLOR BETH WHITESIDE
of public interest, it is believed that this is an area of opportunity for local communities to become increasingly involved in the provision of local winter services.
“Like other authorities, it is proposed to offer community groups existing and new, particularly in villages, the opportunity to volunteer to take action in gritting and snow clearance.
“The proposal would be to offer community groups or representatives bags of salt or a local salt store, hi-vis vests and advice, where they are prepared to take part.”
The report suggests the council will have to advertise for interest, agree the role local volunteers would be expected to perform and offer training, as well as explaining any liability attached to the arrangement.
Monifieth and Sidlaws SNP councillor Beth Whiteside said: “I can see problems with this.
“The SNP group raised concerns when this was first thought about and for the amount of money that is going to be saved it doesn’t make sense.
“This could leave people struggling to get out to things like hospital appointments.”
The changes would see four footway gritters reduced to two for Forfar and none available for Sidlaw.
In Montrose, three will be reduced to two and none will be available for Ferryden or Hillside.
Two footway gritters would be reduced to one for Brechin and none at all will be available for Edzell.
Five could be reduced to two for Arbroath and in both Carnoustie and Monifieth, two gritters would be reduced to one.