Scandal of the Grit Bins !

10.00.00am GMT Fri 8th Jan 2010

In the coldest winter period for decades Basildon Council has deemed it appropriate to remove locally installed grit bins placed at locations that are particularly vulnerable for pedestrians. Lib Dem councillors were first alerted to this on 22nd December, after the first onset of snow in Basildon and immediately sought explanation from Basildon Council officers.

Part of the rationale for removing bins was that some contained old, solidified grit which indicated they weren't used.

Years of relatively mild winters and lack of maintenance no doubt accounted for this, but a further explanation was that their removal was a cost-saving measure.

This argument is completely fallacious ! We know for a fact that December's snow caused delays to scheduled orthopaedic operations at Basildon Hospital because of the number of emergency cases of people injured in falls due to the icy conditions.Whether it's maintaining grit bins or undertaking minor operations at the hospital it is all a cost to the public purse.

Meanwhile, Essex County Council also pursue its questionable policy of devoting most of its resources to keeping priority routes flowing while largely ignoring side roads and, in Basildon, estate roads. It may not have occurred to The Powers That Be but much of Basildon is built on gentle hills, gently, but nonetheless impassable at the slightest snow and ice. It's all very well keeping the main roads flowing so that people can get to work and goods can be delivered, but if people can't get to the main roads the exercise risks becoming futile.

Lib Dem councillors have written to Cllrs Buckley and Turner, responsible at Basildon Council for the Environment and financial Resources respectively, asking for emergency funding to be made available for grit bins to be replaced. We await their responses with interest !