Council received 'calls of abuse' from public over icy footpaths

Technical Officers and council staff came under fire from angry ratepayers who blasted the council for not treating pavements during the extreme weather conditions over the last number of weeks.

Head of Technical Services Noel Crawford told those at an emergency meeting between the Road Service and council Friday that his staff had been receiving "substantial" calls, some abusive, regarding the treacherous walkways.

Mr Crawford joined representatives from the Road Service, the Chief Executive, the Mayor and councillors at the special meeting to strike an agreement on treating the walkways and rural roads.

The council and the Road Service were criticised last week as both said it was not their responsibility to treat the caked iced and snow accumulated on footpaths.

Roads Service representatives told those that came to the meeting that grit and salt services were at "full capacity" over the last number of weeks but agreed that a joint approach through an "informal agreement" between themselves and the council could help tackle the problem.

It was agreed that the department would supply the council with grit and council staff would treat dangerous areas in the Borough.