An Aberdeenshire community fears residents will be left with “skinned knees” or worse after council workers removed a grit bin during three days of blizzards.
Residents in Menzies Park have seen one of the worst winters in 10 years, with snow and ice bringing chaos to the Riverside of Blairs development.
Refuse collections were scrapped and the local postman and milkman struggled to make their deliveries during the wintry blast.
As conditions on the ground deteriorated, locals turned to the council to have their existing three grit bins replenished.
However, upon arrival, workers removed one of the bins from the area.
‘One bin is not going to be enough for everybody’
Tara Roft, a homeowner on Menzies Park, told The P&J how staff onsite informed residents the grit bins were originally provided by Muirs the builders.
However, a risk assessment conducted by the council found the need for only one grit bin in the area.
Officials from Aberdeenshire Council have stressed that only one grit bin “meets the criteria” for the area, prompting the removal of their counterparts.
The second bin has been left in situ “for the time being” as residents weather the storm, however, this has been earmarked for removal at a later date.
The move has left residents furious and concerned for their health and well-being.
The 55-year-old IT programme manager said she can’t understand the council’s logic considering the “grim” conditions.
She said: “It’s awful out there. The one measure that we had to try to safeguard ourselves has been severely restricted.
“One bin is not going to be enough for everybody. It’s just crazy.
“The milkman got stuck the other night because it was too icy. It’s not just us being precious.
“It is quite grim. I just can’t believe the council decided we only need one bin and execute that decision right now.
“Fair enough, if they have decided this is the way of it, send us a letter, let us know, maybe we could explain why we think this isn’t a good idea. You don’t do it when it’s like Narnia.”
Uphill battle over grit bins
Tara said it’s not the first time they have faced a battle to have their grit bins replenished.
She added: “We have always had a problem getting the council to top them up.
“To be fair to Muirs the builders have bailed us out and came and filled them up a couple of times.”
With residents of all ages working to navigate the difficult conditions posed by the packed ice and snow covering the roads and pavements, Tara fears there will be a serious accident.
She said: “You are either going to get skinned knees or you are going to break a hip. Either way, it is not going to end well.”
Residents furious over lack of consultation
Residents of Menzies Park have criticised Aberdeenshire Council for the lack of consultation and their decision to remove the vital resources in one of the worst storms in a decade.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Tara added: “Where was the consultation and where was the common sense? They have made the health and safety situation worse.
“There was no consultation, there was no notice and just no common sense in executing it. We are in the middle of the worst snow and ice we have seen for 10 years.
“I don’t think anybody in their right mind would have made that decision looking at our street.”
Council bosses have stressed their desire to work with the community moving forward to establish how best to support them.
A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council said: “Typically the developer of the site would remove the grit bins they have previously provided – when the process of adoption is being carried out.
“Aberdeenshire Council then assesses the location and grit bin requests from the residents, to ascertain whether the criteria is met for a grit bin to be placed and where.
“In this instance, the developer did not remove the grit bins they installed during the development of the site.
“Following the request for grit bin refills, officers have assessed the three grit bins and found that one grit bin meets the criteria as set by Aberdeenshire Council. When teams attended to refill the bins, they removed one of the two grit bins that did not meet the criteria. The other was left in situ with material inside. For the time being, we will continue to refill this alongside the bin that meets the criteria.
“The residents will continue to be able to request refills throughout the season. The grit within these bins are for use on the public network. Just a handful of grit is needed per 1m² for it to be effective.
“We would be keen to engage with the community regarding the Snow Warden Scheme and how we can aid them in their efforts.”
Here’s what each council in the north and north-east is doing to combat the icy weather.
Have you got enough grit bins in your area? Let us know in the comments below.
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