Hamilton residents hit out at council over condition of roads

Dec 31 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

RESIDENTS in Hamilton this week accused South Lanarkshire council of clearing their own staff car park while leaving many roads and pavements in the town untreated.

Work to remove snow and ice from the authority’s Beckford Street car park, which is reserved for public sector workers, was carried out last week.

The move left many householders fuming and accusing the council of “looking after the interests of their own before those of the wider population”.

A Fairhill resident questioned the council’s priorities when many residential areas had been untreated and left in a treacherous condition.

Brian Brogan (55) of Burnhouse Crescent added: “I have seen a gritter only once in my street in the last week or so.

“Yet the council have spent a lot of time and effort getting the council HQ car park cleared of snow.

“It’s ludicrous when you see roads around the town in a hazardous condition”.

Montrose Crescent resident George Robertson (61) also expressed dismay over the council’s priorities.

“A huge pile of snow has been cleared from the Beckford Street car park,” he said.

“Yet people here cannot get their cars moved for the conditions. We’ve not seen a gritter since the cold spell started. It’s a disgrace.”

Pavements and minor roads in the Hamilton area remained untreated as the council sought to conserve salt reserves.

Gritting on pavements and the refilling of grit bins was also put on hold as the continued cold spell put pressure on supplies.

However, the council pointed out that main routes in the area had to get priority.

South Lanarkshire is currently using 1000 tonnes of salt per day to treat its 1429 miles of main roads.

By Tuesday, December 29, reserves had reached 2660 tonnes.

A council spokesman described that level as “fine” adding that supplies were “coming in all the time”.

She added that thawing conditions (yesterday) meant less grit had to be used.

A delivery of 270 tonnes of salt had been made on Christmas Eve, and a haulier hired by the council had brought 500 tonnes from a salt supplier in Cheshire on Sunday.

The South Lanarkshire spokesman explained: “Given the anticipated long-range forecast the council will continue to prioritise their efforts on main routes. Treating pavements and the filling of grit bins is currently suspended”.

Regarding the gritting of the car park, she added: “The link between Hamilton West train station and council headquarters is salted as it is a major footway route carrying a substantial number of pedestrians, especially in the morning and evening peak periods.

“The main car park is salted and cleared as it is used by a number of services including NHS Lanarkshire, the police, Sheriff Court and council staff.”