Lorry crash could have bin avoided, says Hamilton man

Dec 4 2008 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON man this week slammed South Lanarkshire’s new policy on roads gritting after a bin lorry crashed in his ice-bound street.

The incident happened at about 9.30am Tuesday in Hamilton’s Avonbank Crescent.

According to witnesses, the South Lanarkshire Council vehicle failed to properly navigate the tight road due to the icy conditions and crashed into bins.

It blocked the road that up until then had not been gritted despite sub-zero overnight temperature.

Jim Bannatyne (64), who lives in the street, was so concerned about the icy conditions - and the absence of gritting vehicles - that an hour before the accident he contacted Hamilton South councillor John Murray.

Mr Bannatyne said: “The incident happened at a time when the street is being used by young children who attend Chatelherault Primary.

“Only by luck, no children were nearby at the time.”

The grandfather added: “Council gritters should have been out last night.

“In that way, not only the major but minor roads could have been made safe.”

Council roads chiefs earlier this year altered the council’s gritting policy.

From this winter, 57 per cent of South Lanarkshire’s roads network will undergo precautionary gritting. This, say the council, represents the highest level of service in Scotland.

But the figure is down 13 per cent on the number of South Lanarkshire roads gritted under the former system.

The new reduced maintenance regime is expected to save £212,000-a-year.

A spokesman said:“A comprehensive service is still being provided with main roads, local distributor roads, service bus routes, access to hospitals, schools and emergency services still being gritted in advance of adverse weather on a precautionary basis.

“However, residential roads and quiet rural roads without any obvious access difficulties will no longer be gritted on a precautionary basis.

“Those type of roads have now been included on Secondary Gritting Routes and will be treated during periods of prolonged adverse weather.”

Councillor John Murray said: “I think we were all caught out by the wee bit of rain as well, and the whole place froze. Everywhere is freezing.

“Our first priority is to grit main roads, so that people can get to work. After that we grit the smaller roads, such as main roads through housing estates.

“When they are all gritted, we move on to the side roads.”

Councillor Murray admitted that it was “physically impossible” to grit all roads at once, but stated that all vehicles were out tackling this week’s freeze-up.

He added: “The temperatures have risen, but roads are still frozen.

“We’re doing our best to catch up. I think this time the weather has beaten us on this one, but it is good for us to look at what has gone wrong.

“If there’s changes to be made, then this is definitely the time to look at it.”

l Are you happy with the way roads are gritted? Contact Chris Clements on 01698 205012, or write to Hamilton Advertiser, Press Building, Campbell Street, Hamilton, ML3 6AX (e-mail hamiltonadvertiser@s-un.co.uk)