Could someone please clarify the “salt” and “gritting” conundrum. It seems to this writer that these words are used interchangeably by letter writers and journalists alike in The Press during this “cold snap”.

However, the effect of salt as against a grit-and-sand mixture on the roads and pavements is not interchangeable, the latter being by far preferable in many instances, especially for pedestrians. Yesterday, when I walked into town from Fishergate I had to walk in the road, with the main A19 traffic, using the cycle track where possible.

The pavements weren’t gritted, except outside Fishergate School, until Piccadilly, which then meant a more or less clear run in and around town until 4pm, when I hastened home.

As I could not walk in the roadway in the dark, I had to ask my husband to come to get me from the Barbican area, as I can’t risk a fall for medical reasons. Please could someone clarify whether, as it seems, most “gritting” lorries or “gritters” are in fact salt lorries or salters, not the same thing at all, and far less helpful to pavement users, and drivers such as Andrew Hitchon, trying to get to and from his parents’ home in the hilly Dales (Heart of whiteness, The Press, January 5).

D Nicholson, Grange Garth, York.