Highland Council's 'ready for winter' claim is ridiculed
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HIGHLAND Council is facing ridicule after claiming it was "ready for winter".
Dozens of people took to social media to complain of dangerously slippery pavements and untreated roads in and around Inverness after temperatures plummeted below zero this week.
The local authority had claimed it had been gritting council roads and pavements in line with its winter maintenance programme.
But many took to Highland Council's Facebook page to complain not enough had been done. Harry Ward said: "Half your roads were covered in sheet black ice." And Olivia Letten claimed: "Milton of Leys was an ice rink... no sign of being winter ready!"
Shirley Fraser called the council's claims "a joke", while Lara Jayne McMillan added: "That's funny. Not a spot of grit on the roads this morning. Sliding all over the joint. The elderly are having to walk on pathways that could cause serious injury in a fall."
Council roads are gritted between 6am and 9pm from Monday to Friday, according to priority.
After 6pm, gritting is generally restricted to "primary" routes only.
Before the cold snap, Highland Council revealed details of its "winter fleet" which it said would work hard to keep roads and pavements clear and safe.
It is made up of 105 gritters, 42 footpath tractors and two snowblowers. More than 200 staff are also involved in winter maintenance services.
A spokesman for Highland Council said: "The council will continue to do what it can within its resources and policy.
"But I would encourage communities to come forward and apply for winter resilience assistance from the council that will provide them with salt in grit bins or heaps and other equipment."
Related article: Complaints about icy road conditions around Inverness
