Gritting on school routes in Trim area criticised

A row broke out at a meeting of Trim Town Council last week over the choice of roads selected for gritting over the winter. Cllr William Bligh asked Trim Town Engineer Vincent Collins what the gritting routines and standards were being applied for roads in the area. Mr Collins said that outdoor staff were working daily on the roads and that, in general, routines are dictated according to the weather forecast, Cllr Vincent McHugh got the ball rolling with his criticism of the published list of roads for gritting. "Why are the regional roads not gritted?" he asked. "It doesn't make sense," he said, citing the Rathmolyon road, which was left off the list, as being particularly "dangerous". he added: "It's pure common sense to run that (gritting) lorry down it. There's terrible traffic on that road and there have been several accidents coming form Enfield. Something has to be done. Someone's going to be killed - it's about saving lives," he said. Town clerk Brian Murphy said the route had been debated at Trim Area Council level and with the county council and the matter had been raised by Cllr Willie Carey, but resources were limited. "It might have been said, but it wasn't highlighted," countered Cllr McHugh. Cllr Trevor Golden said he couldn't fathom the route selection. "How school routes were not prioritised, I don't know. There has to be joined-up thinking here - between parents and buses, the busiest (roads) are the school routes," he said. Mr Murphy said resources were limited but that it was a matter of choice for most motorists what roads they take. He said he drives from Drogheda to Trim daily and goes by the main gritted routes. Town manager Tadhg McDonnell said all routes were agreed by the county council, repeated that there were limited resources and said less than half the regional roads were gritted. Cllr Golden said that population centres like Ballivor and Kildalkey should be given a priority, but were not. Mr McDonnell said the volume of traffic on routes was a determining factor as to whether or not they were gritted. "We were a laughing stock last year; we had our heads buried in the sand and we didn't know where to go," argued Cllr McHugh. He said that the question of gritting roads in the area had not been raised at area council level. "That's not fair. It has, I've asked, I've raised it," said cathaoirleach, Cllr James O'Shea. "On numerous occasions before, I've said if something's to be raised at the area meeting, you can go though me." "You haven't said this before," said Cllr McHugh. "This is not fair, he has!" claimed Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Reilly. "This is an important issue and we have to have our say and I am quite happy to raise the matter," said Cllr O'Shea. Cllr Golden said he understood, as town councillors, they had "limited influence" on countywide issues but said they should make their voice heard. "But there's no feedback," insisted Cllr McHugh. Cllr Ronan McKenna said there wasn't enough money coming from the Department of Environment & Local Government to do all the school routes, but said they should be "entitled to it and deserve it".