Winter maintenance in sheltered housing areas

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:

"With reference to your enquiry with regards footway priority, the footway treatment is split into priority and secondary clearance.   These have been completely reviewed and updated this year to provide a more effective clearance process. 

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:

* Winter maintenance explanatory leaflet 

* Winter Maintenance policy report

* Winter Maintenance Map, showing gritting routes and grit bins across the city

West End Wednesday ...

Yesterday, I took part in a site visit with the Head of Transportation and a Senior City Council Engineer at the junction of Balgay Road/Blackness Road/Blackness Avenue - see right.   Last year, I welcomed proposed road safety improvements at this junction as constituents have mentioned what a difficult junction this is - very busy and many vehicles making right turns.

Lining to the west on Blackness Road has been altered to improve vehicle movements coming towards the junction and council officers assured me that its effectiveness will be monitored in the coming months.

I also had the pleasure of a walk round the improvements underway at Blackness Primary School that include new window blinds, new lighting, staffroom refurbishment, new junkers timer sports floor in the gym - see right, wood treatment, windows improvements and improvements to the entrance and main stairwell.    I had previously queried the cost of new cleaners' cupboards and this was reviewed and reduced in cost I was pleased to note.  

Also yesterday, I attended a presentation by the Managing Director of Tayside Contracts that was well-attended by councillors and senior council officers.   The presentation was extremely interesting and emphasised the importance of shared service provision at a time of real financial challenge for the public sector.