Facebook group calls for more gritted streets

Jan 7 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A FACEBOOK group calling for more gritted streets and filled grit bins has attracted over 1700 members.

The group, West Lothian Tax Payers for Gritted Streets and Filled Grit Bins, has quickly gathered hundreds of members on the social networking site in just three days.

Most of the comments left on the site are critical of West Lothian Council’s response to the severe weather which has gripped the county for the past three weeks.

West Lothian resident Pauline Cowan wrote: “This isn’t about being lazy, political point scoring or lack of community spirit.

“The fact is most of us have been spending the last three weeks digging cars out, helping neighbours stuck at the bottom of the street, keeping an eye on those most vulnerable and trying when possible to take rubbish to tips.

"The fact so many people have come together on this forum demonstrates our frustration that the council we pay for have not shown the same spirit and isn’t helping us make this any easier during a, not entirely unexpected, bad period of winter weather.”

Anne-Louise Keenan added: “I appreciate it will be difficult for the council to keep on top of things, but they do not supply grit bins anywhere near my home and they haven’t been in once since it has snowed.

“I wonder what would happen if we didn’t pay council tax until the situation was resolved?”

Council leader Peter Johnston told The Courier he could understand people’s concerns about conditions in residential areas but said the situation should improve in the coming days.

He added: “I think the overwhelming majority of West Lothian residents have experienced difficulties in this weather but most have shown great patience and understanding and appreciate the tremendous work the council staff have done on major roads.

“We will be putting every available resource we can get hold of into residential areas. As soon as they’re available we will send them in. We will do our level best to keep West Lothian safe and clear.”

The theft of grit in the area has also been reported and police are investigating. This has affected supplies with council officials suspecting private firms of emptying council on-street bins.

Stuart Russell, 45, a driver with West Lothian Council’s road maintenance unit, has also told of the hard work the council’s staff have been doing during the cold snap.

He said: “The public don’t realise that we keep having to redo the main roads from morning to night, so the side roads and estates haven’t been getting done. We start at 8am and finish at 11pm, seven days a week, and we’ve been working flat out.

“By the time you’re done it’s home and then straight out in the morning again. We were out on Christmas Day – we never got any Christmas. I’ve not been able to see my kids over Christmas. Our holidays were cancelled.”