Slippery footpaths anger walkers

An angry park user contacted the Leader to express his disgust at the icy conditions on the park’s pathways over the festive period.

A spokesperson for Banbridge council told the Leader the entire winter supply of grit has been used throughout the district’s council premises, and more has been ordered in anticipation of further freezing weather.

The wintry weather saw roads across the district present treacherous conditions to drivers, but the plight of walkers was not highlighted according to the irate reader.

He said, “The council opens a lovely park in September but they can’t even grit or salt the footpaths.

“I saw a family trying to enter the park by the Tesco end but they had to turn back because they couldn’t walk down the icy footpath.

“And the kid’s play area was a disgrace.”

The council spokesperson said such extreme weather conditions present a challenge to the council’s gritters.

She said, “We do our best to grit and salt the outside of all of our buildings and parks - which are the only ones we are responsible for - but we cannot salt every inch of the district unfortunately.

“People need to take care when walking in icy conditions as we really don’t have the resources to provide salt to every inch of every footpath in every park in the area.”

The reader said the council should be trying to encourage people to use the park over the holidays.

“They should have a thought for the public who try to use them over the festive holidays,” he said.