Business owner's concern over lack of gritting

Transport company owner, John Allen, said that snow and ice on the untreated Springvale Road and Brookfield Road near Burnside is making life extremely difficult for three local businesses - John Allen Transport, Springvale EPS and Pencro Structural Engineering.

"I've seen the gritter lorry driving through Burnside every day yet the road there is already clear and doesn't need gritted. I contacted Roads Service on Monday morning and they say they can't grit this road as it's not a designated route, but can someone just not use a bit of common sense and drive the gritter less than a mile up the road and grit the Springvale Road and the Brookfield Road - roads that have never been treated and actually need gritted," Mr Allen told the Times on Monday.

"I'm sure between us we employ about 120 people and Roads Service say they won't grit the road. We are struggling to get lorries in and out and people are finding it difficult even to get in to work. Firms are going bust every day and yet local businesses who employ so many local people and are trying to go about their business can't get any help from the Department whatsoever. It's ridiculous," he added.

Paul Robinson, Manager of nearby Pencro Engineering, said that while they've purchased salt to try to keep the immediate area around their business free from ice, the surrounding roads represent a significant hazard, especially for lorries.

Read the full story in this week's Newtownabbey Times...