FURTHER to the "Online Comments" section of the letters pages in the Derby Telegraph of December 12, most of us are probably agreed that the failure of the county highways department to act promptly on the forecast for snow on Boxing Day is unacceptable.
We were then left with treacherous conditions underfoot, which could have been avoided had the gritting service been mobilised sooner.
As far as I could tell, the main Tamworth Road (B6540) through Long Eaton was not treated until Sunday evening or the early hours of Monday, and the Wyvern Avenue and Meynell Road bus route was not treated at all.
The comment from Richard Cox seems to imply that he sympathises with the council because it has to prioritise with funding and that the cost of the gritting programme – labour, machines and salt – is "unsustainable".
In reply to Mr Cox, why does he suppose that we pay council tax if not to provide the finance for the highways department budget, part of which is allocated to cover the cost of the winter gritting programme, which has to be the major priority in these conditions?
Secondly, we were assured by councils weeks ago that they are well prepared for the winter, with more-than-sufficient stocks of grit and fleets of vehicles with which to deliver it.
They are even prepared to help each other in times of need, they said.
I would suggest to Mr Cox, in view of his perception of the council's apparent shortage of funds, that there is no better example of false economy and waste than to spend millions of pounds of taxpayers' money, which it must have done by the sound of it, on this equipment and then not use it.
Perhaps it was reluctant to deploy its pristine vehicles in these conditions for fear that they may get dirty or damaged.
Whoever's responsible for this fiasco should be shown the door and replaced by members of the Women's Institute or Women's Royal Voluntary Service.
They would, undoubtedly, introduce method and reliability into the operation.
Think of the hideous six-figure salaries and bonuses we would save.
We might even stretch to a small pay rise for the gritter drivers and be able reopen the libraries, the flower beds and anything else that has been closed or left derelict.
Before I go, the proud annual announcement that "there will be no increase in council tax this year" is another myth.
We have paid the same amount throughout these difficult financial times, with no reductions, and yet services have been cut.
This, effectively, is a year-on-year rise in people's council tax, is it not?
Steve Thornton
Meynell Road
Long Eaton
