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| A new constituent I met yesterday |
Over the past few days, I've assisted numerous constituents regarding winter maintenance issues.
One issue that a number of residents have raised is the priority given to getting pathways and pavements cleared in sheltered housing areas. I feel this should be given priority, having been very concerned during the really bad winter in 2010 of the number of elderly folk who found it really difficult to negotiate snowy and icy paths.
Having highlighted the issue with the Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager at Tayside Contracts as a result of queries in the Blackness area earlier this week, he has advised me as follows:
As agreed with the Chief Executive the criteria for priority footway treatment is based on education establishments and significant retail areas. The secondary routes then deal with all other footways giving appropriate consideration to sheltered housing, social work etc. To carry out the clearance of secondary routes effectively it is not possible to carry out clearance of sheltered housing and then social work etc in sequence due to the large amount of double travel.
Based on the new routing and coverage within geographical areas, the priority routes can all be treated within 3 hours and the secondary routes treated within another 8 to 10 hours. Blackness Road is on a priority route as it services the schools and shopping facilities. Corso Street and Abbotsford Street/Place are on the secondary route and are treated following the completion of the priority routes.
Internal paths at sheltered housing locations are treated by the Environment Department based on historical agreements. These are being reviewed between the Roads Maintenance Partnership and Environment to ensure all those identified for treatment in Red Alert scenarios are also identified for treatment in Amber Alert."
The following links will be of interest: