On Wednesday evening St Albans district council passed a motion which was heavily critical of the county council’s response to the recent snowy conditions.
Cllr Anthony Rowlands who introduced the motion said: ‘If more of our roads and pavements had been properly treated by the County Council over recent weeks, residents and businesses would have been spared a great deal of misery and inconvenience. Our motion urges County to improve radically how they respond to prolonged snow and ice. It is bizarre that the Tories voted against this plea to County.’
Cllr Chris White who seconded the motion rounded on the Conservatives’ attempts to blame the district council and reminded members that the county council by its own admission was virtually out of salt. ‘They have enough for five more runs on A and B roads. This is why bin collection was thrown into chaos. They should have learned the lessons from last year.’
The full text of the motion as proposed and passed is shown below:
That this Council notes:
That severe adverse weather over a long period has caused enormous difficulties for residents and businesses within the City and District. In particular, many elderly people have been house-bound because pavements have not been treated. The conditions have highlighted once again how vital it is for Hertfordshire County Council to respond effectively in the event of snow and ice and to be alert to local priorities, to undertake remedial works to the highways without delay and to put in place much improved contingency plans for future winters, including practical support and encouragement for local people to assist with clearing pavements.
This Council therefore calls for Hertfordshire County Council:
Ø To provide an assurance that, in future, plans will be in place for the treating of pavements including practical support for community self-help schemes.
Ø To review route prioritisation for gritting so that key roads are not left untreated.
Ø To provide sufficient resources to undertake swift repairs to the highways (e.g. proper repair of pot-holes) where damage has resulted from the weather.
Ø To review provision and maintenance of salt bins with a view to making them more widely available.
The Council also instructs the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to write immediately to County Councillor, Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, asking him to attend the Cabinet meeting on 5 February.