County council accused of putting safety at risk over gritting (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

County council accused of putting safety at risk over gritting

December 21, 2009 12:15 PM

Mike Pitt

County council bosses have put at risk the safety of Cambridge residents and visitors after failing to grit pavements in the city.

The message comes from Cambridge Liberal Democrats after streets were left in a treacherous condition following the heavy snowfall.

Cambridge City Councillor Clare Blair went to the rescue of a pedestrian who slipped on an icy pavement in King Street and hit her head on a metal door frame.

She said: "The pavements were like ice rinks. They should not have been left in this condition. It was inevitable that people were going to be hurt.

"I find it incredible that the county council failed even to grit the pavements in the city centre at the busiest time of the year."

Mike Pitt, Cambridge City Executive Councillor for Environmental Services, said: "Sadly, this is nothing less than we have come to expect from this county council. The county council is totally oblivious to the needs of Cambridge."

Last winter the Liberal Democrats protested about the gritting of cycleways but the county council failed to grant them a meeting.

Now it has written to district, city and parish councils to discuss whether they should buy salt bins and ask members of the public or council employees to spread salt voluntarily on public highways.

Cllr Pitt added: "It is clear the county council is trying to cut back on its gritting programme and put the responsibility elsewhere. This is totally unacceptable."