Winter preparations made to avoid repeat of grit bins chaos

Derby City Council House (Credit: LDRS)

Derby leaders insist the city is fully prepared to tackle icy conditions and snowfall on the roads – as it plans to avoid a repeat of grit bin chaos.

The clocks go back one hour this weekend marking the start of the winter season, colder mornings and longer dark nights.

It is reported the first storm of the winter season could also come this weekend with heavy downpours forecast for central and southern parts of the UK.

But as with any winter season, icy roads and pavements and spells of heavy snowfall are expected at some point.

Thousands of Derby residents were seriously affected when Storm Gorreti brought large snowfall to the city and surrounding areas in January.

Several schools were forced to close due to the dangerous icy conditions outside.

At the time Conservative councillor Matthew Eyre said councillors received “countless emails” of grit bins unfilled, cars getting stuck and bins not emptied as “lorries could not get around”.

The Labour-led Derby City Council leader, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, later said the service to top up grit bins when needed “fell below the standards” and she made a public apology.

This was despite the leader telling BBC Radio Derby listeners beforehand the authority was “prepared” and grit bins had been topped up to deal with the storm.

At a full council meeting she said: “I’m absolutely perfectly happy to apologise to residents that the information I was given at the time was not the correct information that I had shared.

“I completely accept it fell below the standards that we expect. We acknowledge and apologise it did not go right this time.”

The leader said a review would take place following the debacle.

This week the council has said that all grit bins have been inspected and are fully stocked ahead of the new winter season.

A spokesperson said: “Derby City Council is committed to supporting the safe use of the city’s highways throughout the winter.

“All publicly maintained grit bins were inspected and refilled by the end of September in preparation for winter, and all are now fully stocked and ready for use should freezing temperatures, snow, or icy conditions occur.

“Grit bins are monitored and refilled following severe weather, or when requests are received from members of the public. This approach allows resources to be targeted where they are most needed and ensures grit remains available during periods of adverse weather.”