Newton Abbot Town Council

NEWS

Newton Abbot Town Council has expressed its support for the County Council in its actions to beat the Christmas period deep freeze.

The Town Council at its recent meeting received a briefing by Devon County Council’s Area South Highways Engineer, Mr Brian George. In answers to questions put to Mr George by Town Councillors concerned with the problems experienced with the ice prior to Christmas and the snow and ice since, the following statistics were noted:-

• There are more grit bins in Teignbridge than any other District in Devon.

• The bins are checked and refilled between October and early December each year.

• Instructions were issued  to check all bins and refill following the sever icing event of 23/24 December so gangs worked on Boxing Day and through the Christmas;

• It takes around 150 tonnes of salt to refill bins. This is enough to salt all the A roads in Teignbridge about 6 times. Only a tablespoon of salt is normally spread over a square metre/yard even on snow.

• As salt stocks began to run low, the bins had to be refilled with grit only.

Mr George explained that during the severe weather the bins were being emptied as fast as they were being filled, and some people were using them for private and business areas, rather than for public highway areas as intended.

Upon being questioned regarding treating roads, Mr George stated “The County Council’s focus over the last 40 days or more this severe weather has lasted has had to be the main ‘A’ roads and town shopping centres. As salt stocks ran down DCC were not able to salt estate roads which we try to do after a few days when snow/ice is not too prolonged.”

Chairman of the Town Council’s Finance & Resources Committee, Councillor Mrs Daphne Watts, in thanking Mr George for addressing the Council said “I am sure I speak on behalf of the majority of Councillors when I thank you and your staff for the tremendous efforts made on our behalf in a period of extreme and abnormal weather conditions over the pre and post Christmas period.”  

Mr George went on to say “Some 20,000 tonnes of salt has been used across Devon mostly on the main roads this winter which is twice the amount used in a normal winter.  By 12th January there was only about 4,000 tonnes left in Devon, enough for about 6 days. A further shipment  is due to arrive from Ireland soon with another 4,000 tonnes. The County Council’s careful management of salt has meant we have more than many other councils and have helped some who have almost run out completely at times.”

-ENDS-

For further information please contact Phil Rowe -  - 01626 – 201 120

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Date – 18th January 2010.