Concern over road salt supplies

After speaking to Roads Service on Friday (January 8), Mr Craig confirmed whilst there was enough salt to last for the next five days, Roads Service were examining alternative forms of road gritting, including the use of small stones in local grit boxes.

Mr Craig also urged local people to use common sense when it came to obtaining salt to grit smaller roads after police had to be called to the Roads Service depot at Sprucefield during the week.

"The entire system across Northern Ireland is under huge pressure," said Mr Craig. "There are enough supplies of salt to last for the next five days but Roads Service are already looking at alternatives for us in local grit boxes, for example small gravel or stones."

Mr Craig continued: "Grit boxes at the Roads Service depot at Sprucefield were removed after one group of people became physical with staff and police had to be called.

"In one day 15 tonnes of salt was taken from one grit box at the Sprucefield depot. Clearly that is not individuals trying to grit their own driveways. This is a case of people abusing the system.

"Whilst the weather is extremely severe everywhere I would call on people to use commonsense and perseverance.

"I commend Roads Service for the number of main roads they have managed to keep open. Hopefully the weather will turn within the next week and if not I believe there are going to be huge issues with regard to road gritting."