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Buncrana road gritting cut back
20.10.09
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
GIVEN the mild weather of the past week thoughts of
frost, ice and snow may be far from the mind, but
Buncrana Town Council last week revealed that it is
to cut back its winter road gritting programme by
almost a third.
Town engineer Donal Walker said that given the
current economic climate and following a review,
some 5km of routes gritted in previous years will
not be covered this winter. |
In 2008/9 Buncrana Town
Council gritted 16.07km of roads within its own area
and 3.5km of roads in the Donegal County Council
area. In 2009/10 it will reduce routes in its own
area to 11.07km.
In general, this will apply to non-strategic routes
and housing estates where roads don’t have a steep
gradient. Mr Walker said this in line the practice
in other towns and areas in the county.
Among the housing estates to lose the gritting
service are Earlsfort, Riverview and St Oran’s
Drive, while Grianán Park and Ballymacarry Road will
also lose out.
Cllr Daren Lalor asked that saltboxes be provided in
estates and areas losing the service. |
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Mr Walker replied that
boxes would be provided if residents’ associations
request them and give a commitment to use them.
Cllr Peter McLaughlin pointed out that the road to
Ned’s Point was due to be excluded under the 2009/10
plan but asked for it to be reinstated given the
importance of safe access by RNLI volunteers to the
station from which they launch the Swilly lifeboat.
With support from other councillors, the route was
included.
Mr Walker pointed out the programme related to the
usual gritting associated with winter maintenance
and in the event of heavy snowfall, the council will
use snowploughs and do whatever necessary to ensure
that traffic routes remain passable.
However, he warned that the council does not
guarantee ice-free roads and drivers should exercise
sufficient caution and take account of prevailing
road conditions during wintry weather. |
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