COUNCIL PROPAGANDA GOES DOWN LIKE A TON OF SALT

NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY

Especially not when you are being widely criticised for spreading it too thinly on the streets and pathways and residents are being advised to walk like penguins when – as seems to happen frequently according to the council’s own inimitable on-line complaints column – they are in danger of falling on their backsides.

Or maybe even breaking their bones as the temperature plummets — and adding to the overcrowing in our hospitals’ under pressure A&E departments.

The Council says it’s prepared for colder weather and has reminded residents to get “winter ready”.

But Alexandria community activist Harry McCormack’s respose to seeing the council warning on social media was this: “Can’t see the new salt dome? £975.000 they could have gritted the whole of Scotland a few times over with that money.

“And they are still paying management overtime for winter maintenance. Don’t know how they are doing it because anyone over pay grade 7 doesn’t get over time rates, but they do.”

Raging Sandra Mac responded on Facebook: “Well if you have that much salt, how about using it? The whole of West Dunbartonshire was like a huge skating rink last week and not a gritted pavement or road in sight.

“Bad enough for the elderly not getting winter fuel allowance this year that any of them trying to go somewhere warm for a few hours puts them at risk of falling and breaking a hip or leg.

“This makes your story absolutely ridiculous because no one seen anyone jumping into action in November! As Donald Trump would say……FAKE NEWS!!!”

Ewan Williamson advised: “WDC staff and councillors should learn to work doing what they’re paid to do instead of [taking part in] all these ridiculous photo opps.”

The spin doctors say West Dunbartonshire Council teams have already been reacting to the colder weather and are also encouraging residents to make preparations for winter.

But for some people the gritting lorries are going far too fast and not spreading enough salt, especially in the housing estates.

Undeterred however they are announcing: “The Council’s stores of salt have been restocked ready for use in response to freezing temperatures over the winter period.

“Teams will be on standby 24 hours a day throughout the winter to undertake any gritting treatments as required. They have already been called into action in late November as temperatures plummeted.”

If you have any complaints contact: https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/…/winter-maintenance/