Snow falls, but no grit for residential streets
AFTER an emergency meeting, Harrogate Council has said it will not grit residential streets because it fears supplies will run out.
With snow forecast, the council's chief executive Wallace Sampson yesterday held an urgent meeting with emergency service representatives.
Afterwards, he said a decision had been made to grit main roads and bus routes at the expense of residential streets.
'Conserving grit'
"We are receiving a lot of calls from residents who think that they have been missed off the gritting round," he said.
"Our usual policy is that once the main routes are covered including the bus corridors, we will take crews into the residential areas.
"However, given the extreme situation at the moment, we will not be gritting residential areas so that we can conserve grit and salt supplies.
"We are currently receiving daily supplies from the only local supplier but we need to make sure that sufficient is available to keep Harrogate and Knaresborough open for business."
Mr Sampson said crews with flat-back lorries loaded with sand would man some of the hillier local routes to help motorists who may get stuck.
Icy roads
"My staff have been working 24 hours a day since Monday in two twelve hour shifts.
"They, and their managers, have done an exceptional job in keeping us all moving."
And he urged residents to take heed of national advice and only make foot and vehicle journeys when they are absolutely necessary.
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Weather for Harrogate
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
