'People felt abandoned' warns councillor in row over empty West Lothian grit bins

More than 2,000 empty grit boxes meant a lot of people took a tumble on slippery pavements in the last few weeks.

Most grit bins in West Lothian were 'empty boxes'

West Lothian’s minority Labour administration joined them when an alliance of the Tories and SNP rejected the defence of its performance this winter amid heated exchanges at a meeting of the full council.

Labour argued that with 2,500 grit bins, it had the most in Scotland. Tory group leader councillor Damian Doran-Timson said, without grit, they were just 2,500 empty boxes.

Labour lost its footing on sheets of complaints from across the chamber about ungritted pavements, best summed up by Independent councillor Stuart Borrowman who told the meeting: “People felt abandoned.”

He added: “It would be better if we just moved on and Labour conceded that they got this wrong.

“Like many things in this council I’m sure the winter service plan looked good on a computer screen in the Civic Centre.”

He said constituents in his cul-de-sac were willing to clear pavements, and continued: “The message that came from my constituents was that they felt abandoned. They didn’t feel that they weren’t willing to contribute, but they didn’t want to feel abandoned by having 2,500 empty grit boxes.

“The other thing I would echo is how hard these guys [ council staff] have been working in difficult circumstances. If the Labour administration really believes that then it will take a more sympathetic approach to applications for key worker status for men working very long hours and juggling childcare and education.”

A composite motion agreed by the SNP and Tories, backed at a vote by councillor Borrowman, called for an interim report into the maintenance programme and a review of the plans in time for next winter. It passed by 19 votes to 11.

Executive Councillor for the Environment Tom Conn argued that the plan had been approved by councillors across the chamber at the Executive in October.

His amendment said: “Primary footpaths were kept clear as best as resources allowed…In terms of giving grit bins higher priority in general this could not be achieved unless other aspects of the Winter Service were given lower priority.”

It added: “To replenish public grit bins every 48 hours during severe weather would require in the region of 90 operatives per day, however during these conditions all available resources are already committed to delivering the winter service.”

Councillor Conn said agreement could be reached on the way ahead between all parties but no party had picked up the phone.

Councillor Frank Anderson, SNP group depute leader, who had originally also tabled a motion on the winter plan said: “Labour have had these for two weeks. They could have picked up the phone to either party. You are the people who are forcing this to a vote. It’s nonsense.”

He added: “More people were having accidents slipping on pavements than there were in car crashes.”

Labour group leader councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “The plan was right. We have just had very difficult periods of ice.”

Tory Chris Horne compared this to the infamous excuse made by British Rail about leaves on the line slowing trains in winter.

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