'Bring back gritting' plea for East Belfast

12.00.00am GMT Tue 2nd Dec 2003

NEWLY-ELECTED Alliance Party Assembly member Naomi Long has welcomed Roads Service's decision to put parts of East Belfast back on their gritting schedule, although she has criticised the Service for not going further.

Councillor Long had written on behalf of residents to the Minister, asking that their original decision to remove the areas be reversed. Two were, but the East Belfast MLA has expressed her anger at the refusal to reinstate other routes at Beechgrove and Glencregagh.

Cllr Long said: "Roads Service has seen sense and will now grit Casaeldona Park and McCaughan Park.

"However, it isn't all good news, and areas such as parts of Beechgrove and Glencregagh are still being excluded from gritting. They have steep hills, and as icy conditions become more common, it will leave many older people who can't salt the roads themselves stuck.

"I would ask Roads Service not to be a Christmas Scrooge and look again at the inconvenience caused to many elderly people during the winter, as well as the fact that these roads have a relatively high traffic volume, and ask if saving a few pounds really does outweigh the implications for safety."