Area committee approve winter service plan for Sutherland
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Members of the Sutherland area committee met yesterday to approve the winter service plan for the coming winter season.
Councillors noted the priorities, timings and resources available for gritting the Sutherland area network of Primary routes - 534km (40 per cent); Secondary routes - 248km (19 per cent); and Other routes - 554km (41 per cent). The plan explains that primary routes are treated first, followed by secondary routes and then all ‘other’ routes as resources permit.
The plan has been approved with an amendment, subject to agreement at full council, for the road from Lochinver Primary School to Inverkirkaig Bridge (approx. 2.5 miles) to be re-prioritised from the category ‘other’ to ‘secondary’.
Sutherland area chair, cllr Richard Gale said: “I am glad that we were able to agree the winter service plan for this coming winter season. We have an extensive roads network here in Sutherland and so it is imperative that we are prepared.
“There are a limited number of spare gritters available across Highland and some footpath tractors treat several villages which involves time taken to travel between locations. We would therefore encourage our community members to help our more vulnerable neighbours by helping to clear snow or ice, or even assisting them with shopping and accessing health and social service during extreme weather conditions.”
The council will continue to provide the community with salt/grit, bins, scrapers and reflective waistcoats. The council notes that this will not replace the service provided by the council but will allow the community to be provided an enhanced level of service.
Applications for the winter resilience scheme can be made via the Highland Council website.
The council says that the winter service policy is in place to ensure a consistent level of service between areas and to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of drivers and pedestrians, noting that the operation of that policy does not, and cannot, ensure that every road and foot way will be free of ice or snow at all times.
National guidance supporting the public to be prepared for emergencies and extreme weather is available at ready.scot.
