Grit Shortage: Are Councils to Blame?

Recently, Britain has experienced one of its coldest periods in decades, resulting in unfavourable conditions for both the road user and pedestrian. However, the situation was not helped by the poor decisions from certain authorities, whom insisted on a reduced grit order – consequently, leaving a grit shortage.

In certain parts of Britain, and specifically, Peeblesshire, the public have resorted to taking that grit salt out of bins for use on their own private property and driveway. The extent of the problem has meant many footpaths and roads can not be thawed; meaning those select few may be benefiting themselves, but in reality, they are creating a more severe issue for those around them.

The council have stated that such occurrences cannot continue. And instead, emphases its purpose as only being permitted for the council and schools to apply on the routes.

But opposition to this has also ensued. People claim that the council are not distributing the salt like they say. Therefore, members of the public should be within there right to use the grit on there public property, especially when it helps enable them to not only gain access to their home – but more importantly, ensure that they can get to work.

In addition, the councils statement “the public should go out and purchase their own salt”, could in fact be fundamentally flawed by there own failures. That is, people have realised that the council are not improving the situation, and therefore to actually obtain purchased salt, they have to use the council’s salt first. Effectively, the council have created there own paradox by not aiding peoples ability to travel and actually buy it themselves.

Effectively, the newspapers have made a bigger and seemly unnecessary issue out of these happenings. Granted, it is for use to only the council and schools to apply on roads for the general public. But, considering the council is not doing there job and applying the salt onto the roads, it can therefore be deemed reasonable enough to use, especially when its purpose is to get salt of there own.

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