Icy Roads lead to call for Gritting flexibility

The weekends frosty weather saw several road incidents with Slieve Gullion Councillor Mickey Larkin asking the Department for Infrastructure to show more flexibility on their gritting criteria. Wood Road in Killeavy was blocked for a time when a lorry skidded and found itself wedged between the hedges.

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Councillor Larkin explained that whilst motorists and residents must be alert to the treacherous weather conditions with regards to their safety on local roads, the Department for Infrastructure needed to show more flexibility on the issue of gritting.

The South Armagh Councillor said,“Myself and my Slieve Gullion colleagues have been working on a virtual road by road basis trying to ensure that the main roads have been salted and the minor roads  at the very least have grit piles left along them. More flexibility is required from the Department for Infrastructure in relation to criteria for salting and salt piles being made available on all local routes."

The Councillor emphasised that toads to all Schools must be included in the Salting programme now that Winter is well and truly upon us. "We really need to ensure that the winter action plan by  Roads Service covers all areas and routes”. added Cllr Larkin.