SDLP councillor Angela Dobbins
She said that the recent snow and ice showed that DfI’s current policy was not working and there was not enough salt available to residents
Cllr Dobbin added: “At Thursday s full council meeting I proposed that details of the positioning of grit boxes be provided by DFI in the Derry and Strabane area.
“Whilst I applaud council environmental officers for sourcing and purchasing the larger containers that will be placed in community hubs for stockpiles of salt and grit, the recent cold weather has identified that these stockpiles were insufficient and inaccessible to many areas and those volunteering to transport provision had problems reaching affected areas.
“I believe salt boxes should be more strategically placed, such as on hilled areas and inside smaller estates.
“I was inundated with calls from people who had ‘near misses’ in their vehicles while attempting to exit Templeard, Ballynagard Rd and Thornhill Pk,to name a few, where cars had little or no control on the icy conditions.
“The village area on Culmore Point Rd and Ardan Rd were totally helpless on Wednesday either entering or exiting.
“It is evident that if boxes are strategically placed like the ones at the entrances of Griffith Pk and O Donovan Rd they would work well as these residents were able to safely join the the road.
“I am aware that many locals have expressed their eagerness to help with spreading the salt..it was just not available.
“I can only speak as a resident in my local area, but I am sure that other hilled areas around the city experienced the same problems.
“I call on local councillors to provide information of the ‘black spots’ where untreated areas join arterial routes so that the aping of the boxes can be updated and these areas are aptly provided for.”
