The Isle of Wight Local Access Forum say they are extremely concerned that a number of major roads have been removed from the set gritting routes for Winter 2019/20.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Isle of Wight Council have cut a total of 30 roads from this year’s gritting schedule including Military Road, East Ashey Lane, Blacklands Lane and the main road through the villages of Newbridge and Wellow.
The Local Access Forum say that to omit Military Road is of particular concern given the various types of users on this stretch of road and its importance to the Rights of Way network. According to the LAF, the road is known to hold water and moisture during the winter months and has proven to be a major hazard to users if not gritted.
IW LAF representatives are critical of the methods used to compile the risk assessments on each road and will be looking for immediate feedback from users as a Statutory Advisory Body once the winter weather returns.
Gritting routes has been added to the agenda to December’s meeting of the LAF due to the significant impact on the Public Rights of Way network.
Well done LAF
I hope they intend to reduce our council tax next year. Mind you those who lose their lives due to these actions won’t be paying it any more.
So what if an ambulance cannot get to it’s intended destination due to non gritting, can the council be held responsible? The council do this each year, trim back the gritting, and more than likely, sell off the remaining quota allocated to the island.