Calls for council to introduce salt bin scheme

Roscommon County Council is being urged to introduce a salt bin scheme in a bid to have local roads gritted during adverse weather conditions.

Discussion on the issue arose at a meeting of Boyle Municipal District when Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Moylan said he had sent in a request to see if the road from the N4 to Cootehall could be included on the council’s list when gritting roads. He said he received a one line answer saying, “not going to happen”.

“I was not happy with this. There are a large number of people living in Cootehall and working in Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon. All I am looking for is to see if it is possible to make it accessible. I know other councillors receive lots of representations about gritting of roads, but I think there is merit in this.”

Cllr Leah Cull stated: “I expect it comes down to resources and staff. Cootehall is also taking a lot of traffic off the N4. There are four school buses on the road. The Ballyfarnon to Boyle road can be lethal and also has four school buses on it. I would love to see it prioitised,” she said.

She proposed that the council look into providing salt bins.

“A lot of councils have them,” she noted and outlined that in Monaghan a bin is provided with one fill of salt and then it is up to a community or local group to manage the bin.

“This would cut out a lot of frustration on the ground. It would be welcomed by the public.” Cllr Micheál Frain seconded her proposal with Cllr Liam Callaghan adding that he understood that bins were also in place in Carrick-on-Shannon.

However, the Fine Gael councillor said he envisaged issues with insurance and questions over who would be responsible for the bins. He said this was maybe an issue that needs to be brought to the strategic policy committee.

Cllr Valerie Byrne added that all the councillors had received representations about the Cootehall road, saying there are a number of very bad bends on the road.

Addressing the issue of salt bins she said: “We would all love to have them, but it is about insurance. I don’t know how those other councils are doing it.”

Cllr Frain added: “I understand about insurance, but can we at least look at something, we are talking about people’s lives. We are always being told about insurance and health and safety but if it is good for Monaghan and Leitrim why not Roscommon?” he asked.

He was told by the Municipal District Co-ordinator Ivor Kilcline that routes are prioitised. He stated that TII pays for gritting of national routes, the Department of Transport pays for regional routes, and the council pays for the local roads. “For local roads it comes out of our budget,” said Mr Kilcline.