City's gritting operation branded 'inadequate'

A council has defended its gritting operation amid claims it was insufficiently prepared for the impact of cold weather on the roads.

Derby City Council told the BBC it had been gritting roads "almost daily" since Christmas and would continue monitoring the road conditions ahead of a storm forecasted for this week.

However, the leader of the Conservatives in Derby, Steve Hassall, said he had received many more complaints from residents compared to previous years.

The council has a legal duty to grit all A and B-roads, important access roads and other roads enabling access to critical buildings, with other roads being treated on a priority basis.

Pedestrianised areas and footpaths in the city centre and shopping centres will also be gritted when the forecast indicates rain is likely to be followed by freezing conditions, or when snow is forecast.

Hassall described the amount of contact from residents concerned about dangerous road and pavement conditions as "unprecedented" and claimed parts of the city had been "cut off".

"The gritting provision during this cold snap has really fallen well short of what people expect, and it appears the absolute minimum of routes have been gritted," he said.

"We've had a car rolled in Allestree, people slipping and tripping, car parks in particular have been a real pinch point for people.

"The roads are now getting back into full-time use after the Christmas break, they need to be out there gritting every road that they can.

"It's really brought into sharp focus the inadequacies of the gritting provision over the last few days."

However, Derby's business representatives praised the council's gritting operation for covering a wide area with "limited resources".

A spokesperson for the Derby Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District added: "I can confirm that the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Rangers, who patrol the city daily, have received no complaints from members of the public or from the businesses they have visited or engaged with regarding the gritting of pavements or access into the city."

The city council said its staff had been operating more than once a day on occasion to treat the roads, adding, however, that it "is not possible to grit every road and footpath in the city".

"We prioritise key and essential routes to help keep the city moving, alongside footways in areas that have high footfall such as the city centre, access to the hospital, and footways approaching the football ground on matchdays," a spokesperson said.

"This is in line with the council's policy and national guidance.

"As the conditions remain challenging, we urge drivers to take extra care on their journeys by reducing speed and driving to the conditions.

"We also urge pedestrians and other road users to minimise their travel until conditions improve."

Outside of the city, 26 core gritting crews have been deployed alongside contractors by Derbyshire County Council.

Some farmers are also contracted by the authority to provide assistance in more rural areas.

Highways head of commissioning management Alan Tulloch described the recent gritting operation as an "immense task".

"It is a very busy time for our workforce and our teams are working 24/7 during these severe weather events to keep the county roads moving," he told the BBC.

"Whilst people may not see the gritters actually out, they are working 24/7 during the night time."

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