Now the three weeks of severe winter weather seems to be abating, local people may want to consider any lessons that might be learnt from the experience.
North Yorkshire County Council has announced that a further 300 miles of rural roads will no longer be grittted, during the current winter, as an emergency measure to help conserve national stocks of salt. Whilst many will understand and accept the need to react to such an unusually long and widespread period of ice and snow, the people of Ryedale must be vigilant if they are to ensure the change really is temporary and that the Winter Maintenance Policy, agreed after much consultation less than two years ago, is fully reinstated.
NYCC has also decided to reduce the number of salt heaps and grit bins it replenishes and that all new grit bins, usually provided at the request of parish and town councils, must be paid for by those requesting them together with an annual charge for filling each bin with salt. Whilst the initial charge could perhaps be defended, as a way to moderate the number of requests, the annual charge seems to be a bureaucratic nonsense, with NYCC sending out lots of invoices simply to move the cost of grit to a different line on our council tax bills.
A further concern, with the reduction in the number of salt heaps, is the real risk that those remaining will be plundered for use elsewhere. Indeed, just this week, I witnessed a chap shovelling salt from a grit bin on Cropton Bank into the back of his silver Vauxhall, presumably for use at or near his home. Whilst understandable, his actions will leave other road users very vulnerable when Cropton Bank next freezes.
All that said I believe we Ryedale residents owe a real debt of thanks to two groups of workers. First the NYCC Highways staff, emergency services and contractors who, together with the many volunteers that pitched in, have worked long and hard hours to keep Ryedale moving and safe over recent weeks. But also, all those involved with the provision of social services, who have managed to continue providing vital assistance, in very difficult conditions, to our most vulnerable neighbours.
Links to my previous musings on gritting can be found here and here.
Photograph of The Blacksmiths Arms at Lastingham is courtesy of Heather White
