TIRED York council gritters deserve the encouragement and understanding of politicians – not grumbling from councillors who are wise after the event.

That was the frosty rebuke for Labour councillors today from senior Liberal Democrat Steve Galloway, after they strongly criticised City of York Council’s gritting of pavements and cycle paths during the big freeze.

Coun Denise Bowgett said yesterday the Lib Dem authority’s gritting policy had let residents down and needed overhauling.

Coun Ken King claimed the snow of the past fortnight had taken the council by surprise, and York MP Hugh Bayley said he wanted to meet the council to discuss ways of improving the gritting service.

But Coun Galloway said today: “Labour are being wise after the event. Even for them though, blaming others for the weather is a new all-time stupidity.

“Today’s heavy snowfall will be another challenge for our tired staff. They deserve the encouragement of the MP and all councillors who should be much more knowledgeable and understanding of the problem than Coun Bowgett seems to be.” He said Coun Bowgett had recorded only one complaint about salting with the council, on December 29.

Coun Galloway said he had been out on Christmas Day and spread some salt from a self-help bin in the Gale Farm Court car park to avoid an unnecessary callout of staff, adding: “There will be many other examples of people dealing with the problems themselves rather than just grumbling.

Coun Bowgett said it was the council’s gritting policies that needed examining, not its staff, who had worked extremely hard and deserved nothing but praise. She said she had reported a number of complaints in one email to the council on December 29.

The worst winter weather to hit the city in 20 years has led to teams in York and North Yorkshire working round the clock to treat icy roads and footpaths.

A spokeswoman for the City of York Council said workers were out at midnight on Monday and back out at 5am yesterday to treat the main roads and routes in and out of the city. Snow ploughs were also out in force to tackle the several inches of settled snow. Workers gritted the roads again at 4.30am today.

So far, City of York Council has spread more than 3,000 tonnes of salt and workers have gritted the roads and footpaths more than 70 times during the big freeze – at a cost of about £360,000.

Normally, workers expect to grit the roads about 65 times between November and March.

Richard White, City of York Council’s assistant director of neighbourhood services said: “We currently have 300 tonnes of rocksalt and are working with our suppliers and other local authorities to maintain our stock."

Meanwhile, an East Yorkshire town was facing slippery conditions today after reports that “outsiders” were stealing its grit from specially provided boxes.

Market Weighton residents are claiming they are unable to grit their paths and driveways because thieves from other areas are raiding their supplies.

Grit bins provided for the town’s worst-affected areas are being emptied almost as soon as they are filled by council officials, leaving some residents housebound by the snowy conditions.

Market Weighton Town Council bought ten bins to add to those currently provided by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Tracy Simms, acting town clerk, said: “We have had reports from residents saying it looks like outsiders are coming and helping themselves to the grit."

A Humberside Police spokesman said stealing grit from the bins was theft and anyone caught doing so would be dealt with accordingly.


City of York Council's gritting information

Including details of which roads and footpaths are gritted, and the location of salt bins in York.