Temperatures have plummeted too low on Speyside for grit spread on roads and pavements to work properly, Moray Council said yesterday in the face of renewed criticism about dangerous conditions.
Residents in the area claim surfaces have been turned into “sheet ice” amid reports school pupils have been forced to abandon walks of 400 yards while others have been kept at home following falls.
Yesterday, Moray Council stressed crews were working “flat out” to treat priority routes and are spreading on pavements when staff are available.
However, temperatures in villages have dropped so far below freezing overnight that the salt has “not worked as well as it should”.
Rehearsals of Aberlour Primary School’s nativity show were cancelled after teachers decided the pavements were found to be too icy.
Julie Sarab, whose daughter Theia attends P3, said: “It’s only about a 400-yard walk to the church from the school but it was decided they couldn’t get there safely.
“I’ve been in Aberlour for three years now and I’ve never seen it that bad. They’ve come out and gritted when it was a bit snowy but something has definitely gone wrong this week.”
Meanwhile, Debbie Byiers’s son Max, who lives in Rothes, fell when walking to catch the bus to Speyside High School. She said: “It’s been so treacherous, just like sheet ice. I thought I had walked him past the worst of it so I went back home.
“Luckily, he had his hood up and it took some of the impact when he cracked his head. I’ve only moved to Rothes from Elgin this year and I didn’t realise the rural communities had it so bad.”
Moray Council’s annual gritting budget of £1.8million was cut by about £80,000 for the current financial year. A further £31,000 saving has been proposed for next year.
Speyside Glenlivet councillor Louise Laing said: “I don’t think they’ve prepared enough.
“I know there’s miles and miles of roads and pavements to be treated but they need to look at where it is needed.”
A Moray Council spokesman said: “The footpaths in Aberlour, Rothes and Keith have been treated every day this week, but the ground temperatures have been so low that the salt has not worked as well as it should.
“All the teams are working flat out to ensure all the priority routes are treated.”
