Coastal temperatures and natural salt in the air will leave some local roads in Mayo without grit this winter
The majority of Mayo's local roads will not be gritted if frost hits this winter due to limited resources and coastal temperature factors, councillors in the Westport and Belmullet Municipal District have been told.
Councillors raised serious concerns about the exclusion of local roads from Mayo County Council's Winter Service Plan, particularly regarding school bus routes, public transport services, and isolated residents who have to travel on these roads in icy conditions.
Head of the Westport and Belmullet Municipal District, Séamus Ó Mongáin, said gritting decisions are based on road priority, staffing, equipment, salt stocks, and scientific assessments.
"The temperature of roads in coastal locations, because of proximity to the Atlantic, tends not to drop as low as they do more inland, that is based on science," Mr Ó Mongáin said and added that natural salt residue in the air reduces the need for gritting.
He stressed that the council must work within its limits, "We can't put all [local roads] on a programme because we don't have the resources to be able to do that."
"In the event of a cold snap, we will look to try and be as responsible as we can with regards to areas that are badly hit," he said.
Cllr John O'Malley rejected the council's explanation about coastal science calling it “BS science”.
The issue was first raised by Cllr Chris Maxwell, who said constituents had contacted him with their concerns regarding the gritting of local roads and rural routes.
He said that last year it had been proposed to place grit stockpiles at junctions and other strategic locations, so that residents could use them if they wished.
While acknowledging the council's weather updates, Cllr Maxwell said they weren't enough, "Alerts won't solve the problem for these people; they would like to have [grit] sent around that they can use."
Cllr Gerry Coyle agreed and highlighted the danger to school traffic. Referring to routes serving Dohooma National School and schools in Carrowteige, he said all the school buses travel along local roads.
"We have got to get those roads done because they are lethal in frost weather and we have to make it safe for our children going to the schools, and the teachers and buses going there," he said.
Achill-based Cllr Paul McNamara said most roads in his parish are local roads and they are used by school buses as well as the Local Link service.
Without grit, he warned, "It'll cause chaos", and said, "Let's avoid the chaos and grit some of the local roads."
While acknowledging it was "impossible" to salt all the local roads, he said school routes and roads used by TII and Local Link services should at least be prioritised.
Mr Ó Mongáin said the council would consider strategic grit stockpiles, but only if there is a prolonged cold snap.
"If there is an extended cold spell, we would be happy to place, strategically around the area, small stockpiles for people to avail of themselves," he said.
However, he added that this wouldn’t be done "ordinarily" as "ultimately if there isn't a cold spell they won't be used", noting this had been the case last year. He said all of the information is set out in the Winter Service Plan.
Cllr McNamara expressed frustration that none of the local roads in his area are included in the plan, saying the council is "only waffling here, nothing is going to change."
He warned that if a heavy frost hits, "no local roads are going to get salt," and reminded the meeting that "there are a lot of elderly people on these roads who use home help."
Cllr McNamara said last year's mild winter was "lucky", but warned that action must be taken before another frost.
Two years ago, he said there was "absolute chaos on the local roads - and we have learnt nothing from that."
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.