Half of York's salt bins may not be filled (From York Press)
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Half of York's salt bins may not be filled
8:44am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
ALMOST half of York's salt bins could be left empty this winter after council chiefs said they no longer have the money to fill them.
A review of City of York Council 's winter maintenance policy has led to parish councils across the city being asked if they can foot the bill for filling 170 bins in their communities – used to treat icy surfaces – following changes to the ward committee funding system.
The city council plans to fill only the 199 bins paid for through its highways budget, but has said it will leave the other bins in place.
However, a report on the issue has warned parish councils feel meeting the costs of stocking and maintaining them would be “double taxation” and a “drain on already tight finances”.
The Liberal Democrat group has described the plans as “a mess” and “a recipe for disaster” if treacherous pavements cannot be treated.
But the ruling Labour group said contingency funding would be available for filling bins which it will not automatically fund.
Coun Ann Reid , the Lib Dems environmental services spokeswoman, said: “All bins will be left out over the winter, but nearly half will not have any salt in them.
“Most residents will only know which bins are empty when they open them on a freezing January morning. Vulnerable residents will be left without a vital grit supply and a crucial tool for getting around safely in icy conditions will be lost.”
Coun Reid said she and two other Lib Dem councillors were calling in the proposals for more scrutiny and asking for a rethink, claiming Labour had gone back on a promise to keep all salt bins refilled.
However, Coun David Levene, cabinet member for environmental services, said the council had made a commitment to provide salt supplies where they were needed.
“Bins will remain in position in order that they can be filled from the council's contingency budget if required, so salt will be available to residents should the weather warrant it,” he said.
“A full review of salt bins across the city will be undertaken after this winter, with full public consultation, which will inform a more transparent and logical distribution of bins for those areas which most need them."
Comments(14)
bob the builder
says...
8:55am Sat 29 Sep 12
Silver
says...
9:25am Sat 29 Sep 12
Oaklands Resident
says...
9:40am Sat 29 Sep 12
All the salt bins are going to be left on the streets but only half of them will be filled.
The other half will be filled with salt "if the weather warrents it"?
If heavy snow falls overnight then these bins provide the only way of some people being able to get out of their cul de sac and to work.
In the meantime the bins will continue to be used for litter with some in Acomb having already been demaged. What was left of last years salt has solidified making them unusable anyway.
& how will residents know which bins are being filled and which are just window dressing?
Completely half baked policy if ever there was one.
Whistlejacket
says...
9:42am Sat 29 Sep 12
Could it be because the latter will look good on James Alexander's C.V. when he tries to shuffle another notch up the greasy pole towards Westminster?
monkeyhanger
says...
10:06am Sat 29 Sep 12
9:42am Sat 29 Sep 12
Why is this council always unable to fund the basic day-to-day services that the public expects, such as emptying the litter bins, filling the salt bins and repairing potholes, yet seems to have a limitless budget for grandiose schemes such as a free WiFi and pedestrianisation?
Could it be because the latter will look good on James Alexander's C.V. when he tries to shuffle another notch up the greasy pole towards Westminster?”
I agree,they lie about having no money for essential services,but at the same time waste millions on consultants,feasabil
ity studies etc.How much did it cost to replace just about every lampost in the City?More than a few tons of salt I reckon.
eboracum
says...
11:47am Sat 29 Sep 12
roskoboskovic
says...
11:56am Sat 29 Sep 12
Buzz Light-year
says...
12:44pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Silver
says...
1:13pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Buzz Light-year wrote:No but providing a proper service is epected of it though
Tax is not a retail model for goods and services.
3.8liter
says...
1:24pm Sat 29 Sep 12
xtc
says...
1:30pm Sat 29 Sep 12
3.8liter wrote:We ll have to due to lack of funds!oh we'll next years rent and council tax rise ll see to it.
Get rid of all these bins, they are only of any use if you have one right in front of your house. The rest of the year they are full of rubbish and a eyesore. If you want to de-ice your path, buy a bag of salt from B and Q ? What's wrong with that?
Thisisme
says...
3:38pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Magicman!
says...
2:16am Mon 1 Oct 12
Monkeyhanger:
I agree,they lie about having no money for essential services,but at the same time waste millions on consultants,feasabil
ity studies etc.How much did it cost to replace just about every lampost in the City?More than a few tons of salt I reckon.
This was a necessary expenditure. Did anybody see the sign post that had fallen down on Petergate a few weeks ago? it had completely rotted at the bottom, with barely 1mm of metal at certain points of the structure - and all the lamp posts that have been replaced have been in the same state due to several years (about 2 decades) of under investment... the only difference being the failed lamp posts were not 2 meters tall but between 6 and 10 meters tall with a bracket about 2m long on, some columns also being cast iron.
If the council is low on funds, why did they waste £12k on Water End? why are they wasting it on more pedestrianisation of roads that people don't want pedestrianised? why are they giving themselves pay rises as if to suggest they're doing a good job?
fear your government says...
8:51am Sat 29 Sep 12
we have paid for this service through our council tax, havent we?