Green Party

A better system for gritting pavements in Norfolk’s urban areas is on the way.

An urgent review of pavement gritting was held at county hall today (Wednesday) after complaints that too many have been left in a slippery state during the current cold snap.

At the suggestion of Councillor Andrew Boswell, leader of the Green Party group on Norfolk County Council it was agreed at today's meeting that the system for keeping grit boxes replenished should be improved. This could involve the creation of a database for the location of gritboxes across the county, and the recruitment of volunteer gritbox wardens at parish level to report to the county council when boxes in their own neighbourhoods need refilling.

Today’s meeting of the Planning, Transportation, Environment and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Panel heard that there had been shortcomings in the council’s arrangements for keeping gritboxes filled so that residents could treat pavements in their own areas. The problems had been especially noticeable in Norwich and some of the market towns. Fears had been expressed that the priority currently given to keeping roads clear during winter weather meant that pavements and walkways were not always safe to use.

Andrew Boswell commented:

"We will carefully scrutinise how the ruling Conservatives respond to our calls. Pavement gritting needs to be taken much more seriously. Grit boxes need to be better maintained and more are needed in many areas in order for residents to be able to grit the paths near where they live. We need an urgent response to this problem to make our roads and paths safer for people to get round in these difficult weather conditions."

In order to demonstrate the continuing need for better treatment of icy pavements, Green Party volunteers, including the Greens’ General Election candidate for Norwich South, Cllr Adrian Ramsay, will be out with their shovels and brushes at 1000 on Friday morning (January 8th) when, for the benefit of some of the most vulnerable pedestrians, they’ll be doing some clearing and gritting of pavements in the area where Mrs Hardman fell and broke her leg. Meet at the junction of Rosary Road and St. Leonard's Road.

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