The clearance of the main traffic routes through Bishopthorpe during the current snow problems has been excellent. Once out of the side streets, we have been able to drive without problems.
Unhappily, this is not the case for pedestrians. Even in the village centre, pavements have not been gritted.
Over 20% of Bishopthorpe residents are aged over 60. Many of these are unable to drive, for reasons of health, cost, or simply because (now widowed) they had always relied on their husbands to be the family drivers.
Christmas is imminent. How do they get to buy the supplies they need without significant risk? Anyone who has had an elderly relative die from pneumonia contracted after a fall and a broken hip will understand the problem all too well. For others, a recent joint replacement can be hazarded by a fall. One could quote many other examples of the difficulties old people face.
I know that the City Council is short of money, and that its policy on snow clearance has been generally accepted as a reasonable compromise between cost and need. It seems to me, however, that its application in the present circumstances has revealed its limitations.
It may be too late to do anything in 2009, but one can hope that it will be re-examined in the light of experience. Perhaps too, our Parish Council's sub-committee dealing with the problems of the elderly could take up the issue.
Ian Hodson
Unhappily, this is not the case for pedestrians. Even in the village centre, pavements have not been gritted.
Over 20% of Bishopthorpe residents are aged over 60. Many of these are unable to drive, for reasons of health, cost, or simply because (now widowed) they had always relied on their husbands to be the family drivers.
Christmas is imminent. How do they get to buy the supplies they need without significant risk? Anyone who has had an elderly relative die from pneumonia contracted after a fall and a broken hip will understand the problem all too well. For others, a recent joint replacement can be hazarded by a fall. One could quote many other examples of the difficulties old people face.
I know that the City Council is short of money, and that its policy on snow clearance has been generally accepted as a reasonable compromise between cost and need. It seems to me, however, that its application in the present circumstances has revealed its limitations.
It may be too late to do anything in 2009, but one can hope that it will be re-examined in the light of experience. Perhaps too, our Parish Council's sub-committee dealing with the problems of the elderly could take up the issue.
Ian Hodson
Interesting item in todays paper about being sued for clearing your path...
If you clear a strip of path - but not all of it - then the user has a choice as to whether they want to fall over or not (maybe not the words they used!) Certainly all the bits of path that people have cleared round Keble Park are much safer then the uncleared bits.
My idea of a gritter would be something like the hoppers used to spread grass seed - definitely not £400 each.
Thinking about the cost of the pavement gritter, I'd like to suggest looking at the York Uni study on the typical cost of a broken hip which worked out at 25,424 quid
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file21463.pdf
Could we invoice the York PCT for the gritter?
Stuart, thanks for your positive response
Details are:
B.S.S. International Ltd
www.salt.eu.com
http://www.bss-international.com/salt_spreaders.html
The one I have seen being used is the Olympus heavy duty unit.
425 quid each at http://www.csi-products.co.uk/olympus-salt-spreader-p-6849.html?zenid=caa43a430be6ec14871e4d1eb4c65f4c
Regards,
Chris
Ian - I have asked this to be put on the agenda at the next Parish Council meeting (26 Jan). I believe we only have three salt/grit bins in the whole village and if we were to provide more and encourage people to spread the contents in their immediate vacinity it would help - but I am open to other suggestions.
I really like the idea of a pavement grit spreader for community use. Would it be too expensive for the Parish Council to buy - put it in a cupboard in the village hall and ask for volunteers to take it for a walk the minute there is any snow. Or maybe not, it might be a guarantee that we don't get any more snow for fifteen years and I rather like the stuff.
Thanks, Chris.
Any other ideas anyone?
Ian
Ian, you are not the only person concerned. I think the council could do more than look at it.
I work for a company with 800 people on site, they have a footpath gritting unit (looks a bit like a wheelbarrow into which 20kg bags of grit go in and manually pushed around), we have no slippy paths over 1 mile of them.
Why not issue one to each village, I'd volunteer to push it around for a few hours. The economics of treating old people for broken hips versus one of these is simple to calculate, but the village council dont have the NHS budget We need radical new policies from new parties (not Tory cuts).
Chris
I recognised the financial problem in my piece (above)and I don't expect the City Council to clear every pavement. What I am asking for is a new look to see what can be done to help.
Some sort of brainstorming is really needed - hence my suggestion that the PC's Sub-committee should consider the problem.
One or two ideas:
1. Draw attention to the problems of the old and disabled, and encourage people to check whether neighbours are OK, whether they need supplies, etc.
2. Make supplies of grit conveniently available for individual use and encourage people - especially on main routes - to use them on the pavements adjacent to their properties. (I have heard that bins exist, but I don't know where they are and who is allowed to use them, for what purposes.)
3. Ask City of York Council to look at the possibility of tackling main shopping streets (only) in villages as well as the city centre.
Surely I am not the only Bishopthorpe resident who is concerned and has some ideas.
I am no supporter of the current Council's Political ruling group, however I do understand that to clear all footpaths and all roads is totally impossible, the Council does not have the resources either in money, manpower or equipment and quite frankly never will no matter who is in control of the Council. This winter has been the worst in terms of frost and snow for many years. Whatever happened to Global Warming?
In the meantime the highways have suffered quite a lot of damage and potholes are appearing all over the villagew, if anybody notes a pothole please let me know and I will get it into the "Repairs System" My email is cllr.jgalvin@york.gov.uk.