Agreement on footpath steps closer

ARGUMENTS over who is responsible for gritting town centre footways could soon be a thing of the past.

Following the extreme weather conditions in January and differing policies on whether Councils or Roads Service were prepared to take action, attempts are being made to develop a combined approach to gritting footpaths in the future.

DRD Roads Service has now offered local Councils, including Coleraine, an agreement which says that for a fee to be determined, councils would assist DRD Roads Service with the gritting of footways.

Council would assist DRD “during extreme conditions following heavy snowfalls or prolonged freezing” upon written request from DRD.

There will be no requirement for Council to purchase any additional equipment.

Members of Coleraine Council’s Leisure and Environment Committee were taken through the details of the proposal at last Tuesday’s meeting by Director of Technical Services, Desi Wreath.

Mr Wreath said that he recommended that Council adopt the agreement, assuming that the required works are covered by Council’s existing insurance.

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