AQO 2441/11-15
Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim
Tabled Date: 06/09/2012
Answered On Date: 17/09/2012
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what actions his Department has taken to address the gaps in legislation regarding responsibility for the gritting of footpaths.
Answer:
As the Member will be aware, there is no statutory duty on my Department’s Roads Service or on Councils to salt or clear snow and ice from footways. Roads Service clears ice and snow from carriageways under the 1993 Roads Order legislation. While new legislation may be necessary in the future, it is not an option that I am actively pursuing at present. The Member may recall that following heavy snowfalls and prolonged periods of wintry weather in previous years, it was generally accepted by the Assembly that Roads Service should, where possible, enlist the help of other agencies, such as district councils, to help clear busy town centre footways of snow and ice. It was envisaged that the best way of salting busy town centre footways in prolonged freezing conditions would be a partnership between Roads Service and Councils, with Roads Service supplying the salt and the Councils supplying the plant and labour to spread it. In an attempt to facilitate such agreements, Roads Service held discussions with all Councils during last year’s winter season, and as a result, I am happy to confirm that as of January 2012, the majority of Councils had agreed a Memorandum of Understanding or exchanged letters agreeing local arrangements for the removal of ice and snow from town centre footways during severe winter weather. A small number of Councils have indicated that they are unlikely to agree to such arrangements. However, Roads Service will continue its efforts to try to bring these Councils on board with this initiative. I believe the best way to deal with this matter is through the partnering arrangements that have been offered and agreed by the majority of Councils.
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