I ask Leitrim County Council to provide detailed driver guidance instructions and maps for each route on the Winter maintenance plan, also the statistical documents for each route detailing the lengths total, treated and untreated, average spread width, kg required for 10g/m2,20g/m2 and 40g/m2 spread rate on each section and totals for each route. Full details of each lorry and gritters, which route each lorry is on, capacity of each m3 and kg and any other information deemed necessary to explain the lack of capacity to add additional routes to the winter maintenance plan.
Minutes:
To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Brendan Barry;
"I ask Leitrim County Council to provide detailed driver guidance instructions and maps for each route on the Winter maintenance plan, also the statistical documents for each route detailing the lengths total, treated and untreated, average spread width, kg required for 10g/m2,20g/m2 and 40g/m2 spread rate on each section and totals for each route. Full details of each lorry and gritters, which route each lorry is on, capacity of each m3 and kg and any other information deemed necessary to explain the lack of capacity to add additional routes to the winter maintenance plan."
Report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation.
"The Winter Gritting Programme is strictly an operational matter and executive function, pertaining to the rate of spread and the timing of application. The programme is delivered each year through the assigned staff and plant and within the financial resources available. The Members are advised annually of the programme and maps of the routes are made available publicly. Matters queried within the notice of motion are variable depending on the prevailing weather conditions and as determined by the duty engineer. The programme as designed must be deemed to be deliverable and sustainable throughout the season and across all weather conditions. In addition, the Council also endeavours to have some retained capacity to deal with exceptional weather conditions. The 2020/21 programme consists of the same scope and scale as previous years and will be delivered within the same budgetary provision as previous years. A key element of this service is consistency of application from the road user perspective. As was explained when the current programme was presented, given that the resources remain unchanged, the service provided also remains unchanged."
Councillor Brendan Barry said he was very disappointed with the reply received and he gave a very detailed background to his motion. Councillor Barry said he had raised this issue at various Plenary and Municipal District meetings. He expressed his dissatisfaction that he has been unable to obtain the information from Leitrim County Council regarding the capacity of lorries and the spread rate of grit/salt, with a view to having additional routes included in the Winter Maintenance Plan. Cllr Barry stated that there was an overall increase in the capacity of the plant in the 2020/2021 Winter Maintenance plan compared to the previous year and this extra capacity could be used to extend the gritting route in the Keshcarrigan area.
Mr Joseph Gilhooly advised that the Winter Gritting Programme is strictly an operational matter and it an executive function to determine the rate of spread and the time of application in accordance with weather conditions. The Winter Gritting Programme must be deliverable and sustainable throughout the season and across all weather conditions. Mr Gilhooly advised that a new gritter will be available towards the end of March. Plant and resources are aligned for each winter gritting season within the budgetary provision as in previous years.
Mr Terry McGovern, A/Senior Engineer updated the members on the plant used to deliver the gritting service. Mr McGovern said it would cost approximately €75,000 to €80,000 based on previous year’s figures to deploy an additional lorry with a gritter and full-time driver.
Councillor Barry considered that there is capacity within the existing resources to grit an additional 2.4 kms of road that serves a large number of houses. No town should be left with untreated roads in winter conditions.
Cathaoirleach, Councillor Mary Bohan acknowledged that all areas have roads that need treatment during the winter season and requested the matter be reviewed by the Executive.
Councillor Enda McGloin and Councillor Padraig Fallon supported the motion.