Gritters are out 'continuously' - council jumps to defence

Easy does it: Drivers taking care on the roads in Sudden

The council’s environment service has jumped to the defence of its gritting team after taxi drivers claimed the roads were too unsafe to work on.

It was reported on Rochdale Online last night (Monday 2 February) how one cabbie, from Newline and Phoenix cars, plunged into a wall on Albert Royds Street, while others refused to work in the icy conditions.

But Peter Cunningham, head of Rochdale Borough Council’s environmental management service explained how 1000 tonnes of salt have been being used in just one gritting operation, and claims the council is “gritting continuously” to keep the roads as safe as possible.

He said: “Plans are to carry on gritting to try and deal with residential areas once the main routes are adequately treated.”

“Instructions were received at midday on 1st February 2009 to carry out treatment of the borough’s roads in preparation for the predicted snowfall and a full grit commenced shortly afterwards.

“This activity carried on through Sunday evening into Monday and is still being continued. The council’s fleet has been gritting continuously for nearly 48 hours and has kept the main routes throughout the borough clear”.

“The unfortunate decision was made to close two of our high level routes along Blackstone Edge (now reopened) and Huddersfield Road for health and safety reasons and to enable our teams to focus their efforts in keeping the borough moving.

“In addition, the council has had other staff engaged on manual gritting activity; treating town centres, high footfall areas and areas of concern such as doctor’s surgeries and sheltered accommodation”.

Oldham councillor Alcock hit out at Rochdale Council for not adequately dealing with the cold weather conditions.

Councillor Greg Couzens, portfolio holder for finance said “I do not recognise the comments from a self-congratulatory Councillor Alcock. Our Council has been criticised in the past but their actions during our recent cold weather has been excellent.

“We have learnt lessons from recent history and I am pleased to say that complaints have been dramatically reduced. The snow over the last few days has been far worse than in recent memory”.

“Our trucks are gritting and clearing roads as we speak and I think that Councillor Alcock should concentrate on his own patch”.