Path confusion 'ludicrous'

Mr Gardiner commented on the matter after the ‘MAIL’ published a statement from the Roads Service saying they were not responsible for the treatment of footpaths.

The MLA said: “Following the recent cold spell while the Roads Service of the Department of Regional Development (DRD) fulfilled its responsibility for gritting roads it emerged that no-one, neither DRD Roads Service or the Councils, is actually responsible for gritting pavements.

“This is a huge gap in coverage and a major health and safety black hole.

He added: “In the Southern Trust, 45 people have required treatment as a result of falls on the ice. There is a major hidden cost to all this.

“If cold winters with attendant disruption are to become the norm then we need some forward planning to deal with them, and not end up with the usual last-minute crisis management.”

“We need for one thing to sort out who is responsible for gritting pavements in town centres and fund it properly,” he said.