At this week’s meeting of the full Council, we were pleased to work with other Liberal Democrat and opposition councillors to ensure there is a proper review of the Council’s gritting operations.

The whole gritting and winter resilience plan has caused a huge amount of frustration amongst our constituents over the last two months. The colder weather created treacherous conditions in many parts of the city and the response from the Council was wholly inadequate.

However, Council officials admitted the online gritting map is completely out of date. Grit bins have been left empty, days even weeks after being reported. Requests for new grit bins appear to go into a big black hole and school bus routes were left ungritted, forcing pupils to miss school. That is why we thought it was so important for lessons to be learned and big changes made for next winter.

In the end, the Council voted unanimously for a motion to review the priority routes.  The motion also included our own amendment to improve the whole system of requesting new grit bins which is cumbersome, difficult and also ensure the online grit bin and prioriy route map, which so many people rely on, is kept properly up to date (currently, many grit bins and priority routes are missing from the map).

Here was the full text of the motion passed:

“Council

Acknowledges the good work carried out by Council staff in servicing Priority 1 routes during the recent snowy and icy weather, to keep the city moving and minimise accidents and injuries;

However, recognises that a significant number of roads and pavements outwith Priority 1 – across large swathes of Edinburgh – received no gritting treatment and that many suburban grit bins were empty or not refilled in a timely manner, creating hazard for many people such as the elderly, disabled and active travellers.

Calls for a report to the Transport and Environment Committee within three cycles reviewing the continued suitability and responsiveness of the current priority system, including, but not limited to, consideration of how the council can better service suburban and other ‘non priority’ areas; give due consideration to the divergent topography and thermal make-up of the city; make better use of technology like ‘routesmart’ to improve response times; and better advertise, service and encourage safe use of grit bins by local residents in their community.

• Council further:
  • recognises the importance of providing residents with accurate information via the online
  winter road and pavement maintenance map and notes that officials have admitted the
  current map does not include all grit bin locations or show all current priority gritting
  routes.
  • acknowledges the current difficulties in obtaining information on the status of new grit bin
  requests and the decision making processes involved in the siting of new grit bins

Council therefore agrees that the report to Committee should also cover:
• how the updating of the online map will be made a priority for next winter.
• the potential to develop the online map in order to provide real time information on
planned and completed gritting of priority routes.
• the improvements that can be made to the processes for requesting new grit bins and the
information that is available on the status of new grit bin requests.

Earlier this month, we received many emails and telephone calls from constituents concerned about the misuse of fireworks over the Guy Fawkes weekend.

People told us they were petrified to leave their houses. Local newspapers described some communities we represent as being like “war zones”. One local police officer even had to be rushed to hospital after being injured from a thrown firework.

Of course, the vast majority of local residents buy, use and enjoy fireworks in a safe and responsible manner. But a small minority are causing damage, distress and misery for many.

That is why we brought a motion before today’s meeting of Edinburgh City Council calling for action. It was passed unanimously and means the Council Leader will now write to both the UK and Scottish Governments calling for a review and changes before next November.

Here is our full motion passed today;

FIREWORKS

Council;

1. recognises that the vast majority of Edinburgh residents enjoy fireworks responsibly as part of the annual Guy Fawkes night celebrations,

2. commends those working in Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and other agencies for their commitment, bravery and professionalism in seeking to protect our local communities from harm,

3. condemns the reported acts of violence which took place in some parts of Edinburgh around 5 November, including fireworks being thrown at emergency service staff, and expresses its sympathy and support to those who suffered injury,

4. acknowledges motion S5M-08695 which was recently tabled to the Scottish Parliament and which has received cross party support, calling on (i) the UK Government to review the rules governing the sale of fireworks, and (ii) the Scottish Government and its partner agencies to investigate and address the antisocial use of unlicensed fireworks,

5. agrees for the Leader of the Council to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills to express the Council’s support for both reviews so new measures can be considered and, where possible, implemented before 5 November 2018.”