Earlier today, along with a number of my councillor colleagues, I took part in a further briefing on winter maintenance preparations for next winter. This was a follow-up to the debrief that I participated in at the end of February that looked at lessons learned from last winter's severe weather and the City Council's response.Today's meeting was lengthy and detailed and I raised a number of issues of concern to West End residents. The council is now looking to use some additional resource (external contractors, farmers and the building trade) to supplement existing resources for winter maintenance. This is to be welcomed but I did ask questions about greater use of council drivers to make greater use of council gritters for additional hours in severe weather.
Amongst other matters, we discussed salt stock levels, grit bin provision, public information and participation, keeping priority roads clear of abandoned vehicles and possible alternatives to the use of salt in very low temperatures.
Council staff have put significant effort into the review of winter maintenance policy and it is important that all effort is made to assist all Dundee citizens in the forthcoming winter period.