Snowball puts York council gritter out of action (From York Press)

Snowball puts York council gritter out of action

12:51pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

A GRITTING machine has been put out of action after a window was smashed with a snowball.

City of York Council said the vehicle will now be unavailable for use at one of the busiest times of the year, as it undrgoes repairs.

Cllr Dafydd Williams, cabinet member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “Everyone’s been enjoying the snow in York this weekend and we don’t want people to stop enjoying themselves - but this is taking snowballing to the extreme.

"We don’t know if the person who threw the snowball meant to damage the vehicle, but because the snow has frozen over-night and turned to ice, when it’s thrown it can cause some serious damage.”

“So, all we’re asking is to think twice and don’t throw things at our gritters. After all, our fleet of gritters are here there to help residents and we can’t do that when they are off the road.”

The council said the gritter will be off the road for about five hours and that the damge would cost "hundreds" to repair.