Public 'should be forced to lend a hand'

Councillor Andrew Burns, the leader of the opposition Labour group, has suggested the radical move after the big freeze brought Edinburgh to a standstill.

He wants officials to investigate introducing a by-law which would require the public to lend a hand.

It comes as the city council faced fresh questions over its winter weather response after it emerged just 29 staff had been working to clear roads and pavements overnight.

Do we need a law to make people clear up snow in their own area?

Cllr Burns has been one of the most vocal critics, but said the by-law should be explored to ensure everyone helps out to keep the Capital moving.

That could mean a homeowner being asked to clear snow from in front of their home, or a business keeping the pavement clear of ice.

He has, however, stopped short of calling for penalties to enforce any new law.

He said: "My understanding is that in Germany it's very much done on a voluntary basis. There would be many people who weren't able to do it for whatever reason, so I don't think it should be rigorously enforced by penalties.

"Every indication is that these severe weather events could become more common, so we need to look seriously at how we can manage this."

Cllr Burns also believes the by-law would help dispel fears that anyone clearing pavements could be liable if there was an accident.

In some parts of the US homeowners are fined for not clearing snow and ice.

However, Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport convener, said the idea was "a gimmick". He said: "It's about them trying to make political capital out of the situation.

"We've got to keep getting the message out that there's no danger of people being prosecuted if they clear snow.

"This is exceptional weather we've been experiencing and Andrew Burns is just grandstanding."

Michael Apter, chairman of the West End Association, said traders there had bought a tonne of grit and were busy clearing the snow.

He said: "The idea of a by-law is something I would wholeheartedly support, providing they can come up with some way of enforcing it which doesn't penalise people.

"Lots of businesses in the West End are clearing the pavements and we've had lots of customers compliment us."

Meanwhile, the city council admitted that just 29 workers had been out during the night.

That response was branded "completely inadequate" by Cllr Burns.

Tory councillor Jason Rust, whose Colinton/Fairmilehead ward has been one of the worst affected by the weather, said the council had missed an opportunity by not tackling icy roads when they were at their quietest.

He said: "It's extremely frustrating to learn of such small numbers of staff being utilised at night across the city.

"Residents who have been trapped in their homes for days will be angry.

"The council really do need to get a grip of the situation and make proper use of all resources and deployed staff."

Cllr Mackenzie hit back, saying the cold was "getting to their heads".

He said: "We have over 600 staff working and to take them off the day shift, which runs from 5am-7.30pm, would make them less effective and would be disruptive to residents."

Meanwhile, with bus companies blaming abandoned cars for causing delays to their services, police have now warned that drivers could be given parking tickets or risk seeing their vehicles towed if they leave them on a main road.

Motorists have also been hit by a shortage of petrol at the pumps as delivery drivers struggle to bring in supplies.

Petrol station bosses across the city said the closure of the M8 and icy roads had led to severe delays.

Yesterday, staff at BP in Calder Road, Sighthill, said they had run dry, but said they were hoping a delivery would get through later in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, workers at the Shell filling station at Dreghorn Link expected to run out of unleaded today and have no diesel left. Jet in Barclay Place in Bruntsfield was also among those running low.

Manager Kamran Sohail said: "We've had people filling up cans and tanks. There seems to be a lot of panic buying."

Many supermarkets also had empty shelves last night.

Sainsbury's in St Andrew Square said it received some stock on Wednesday night and hoped to get more late last night. A spokesman for Tesco in Scotland said some deliveries were late, but stores were beginning to recover.

A spokeswoman for Waitrose said many of its customers have been bulk-buying.

Meanwhile, more than 20 chunks of masonry came crashing down on to the pavement.

Traders in West Port said they heard a huge crash just minutes after a group of 30 school children passed underneath the three-storey building.

Miriam McKay, 45, who works in the Butterflies dress shop, where the incident took place, said: "I heard a huge crash and some of my colleagues screamed."

A city council spokesperson said: "Overhanging snow and ice poses a real safety risk.

"Property owners have a legal responsibility to make their properties safe."

Weather hits a low note at musical

THE opening preview of Broadway musical The Secret Garden at the Festival Theatre fell victim to the weather at the 11th hour.

Despite organisers insisting last night's show would go ahead when the Evening News visited final rehearsals on Wednesday, the plug was pulled on the performance at the very last minute yesterday.

Ticket holders are being offered a full refund or an exchange, as well as a free programme and book.

Chief executive of The Festival City Theatres Trust, John Stalker, said: "There is the old adage that the show must go on, but on this occasion Scotland's severe weather has beaten us."

He added: "Ever since the truck carrying our set slid sideways down South College Street, we have been racing to catch up."

The first performance is now set to take place tonight.