Snow clearance 'still not good enough'

9.56.21am GMT Sat 9th Jan 2010

Liberal Democrat county and borough councillor Malcolm Cowan has hit out at the snow clearance efforts on the pavements.

'There is some improvement in WGC town centre following my criticisms just before Xmas - some of the pavements have been gritted, but it is still miles away from what could and should have been done. And the slush created by the gritting is not being shovelled away.

'I have found out that there are up to 90 Serco staff who are not carrying out their normal work due to the snow - refuse collectors, recycling collectors, grounds maintenance staff and litter pickers. That number should have been able to have a major impact on the snow clearance.

I saw Herts Highways staff out with shovels, and Network Rail staff had come from Hitchin to clear the rail footbridge from Hydeway to the town centre. I have yet to see a Serco worker for the borough out working.

What's more, Serco are still paid, whether they are working or not. That is a scandal and should stop. There is no incentive to actually help.

The situation is even worse around the older people's blocks. The council's own plan says

For sheltered schemes, the intention of the policy is to secure one safe access/egress route for those who have to make essential visits to residents to deliver services (for example home carers, meals on wheels, medical staff etc). The policy is not intended to encourage residents to venture outside.

In fact, very few older people's blocks are included as 'priorities'. In one case, the paths around a communal hall are to be cleared, but not the paths from the homes to the hall. As a resident said 'What are supposed to do - fly?'

Malcolm added 'We will be demanding a thorough scrutiny of all the aspects of snow clearance and the suspension of collections.'

For further information, contact Malcolm Cowan on 324723.