FREEZING temperatures have left some South Lanarkshire residents cut off as the council routinely grits less than four per cent of pavements.

Councillor Fiona Dryburgh has started an online petition to gauge residents’ thoughts on the current winter maintenance policy, as proposals to cut gritting provision and stop issuing new grit bins have been included in the council’s savings proposals for next year’s budget.

Cllr Dryburgh warned: “Older people, others with mobility difficulties, and those with young children are hit very hard and some have effectively been made housebound.”

The Liberal Democrat councillor for East Kilbride South was one of a number of councillors who took to social media following the sub-zero temperatures over Christmas and New Year.

Head of roads and transportation Gordon Mackay confirmed that the council grit just 3.5 per cent of pavements in the region – which is in line with the winter maintenance policy agreed by councillors.

Cllr Dryburgh added: “The fact so few pavements are treated has left many people cut off, with no safe was to get to local shops or other vital services.

Glasgow Times: Councillor Fiona Dryburgh (during her Labour days) Councillor Fiona Dryburgh (during her Labour days)

“Many people who fall sustain injuries that add huge pressure on the NHS, and for some the consequences will be serious or even tragic.

“While I accept no council could grit every road and pavement it’s clear more needs to be done.

“Volunteers in our communities are willing to help and I’m grateful to the residents and churches in my ward who have pitched in. I’d also like to thank officers for agreeing my request to provide supplies.

“I hope councillors of other parties will back our proposal for a review of gritting with a mind to find what more can be done and done better.

“I’d also like to see some recognition from the Scottish Government that providing more funds for councils to treat pavements would prevent injuries and lower the cost to the NHS.”

More than 1000 new grit bins have been added to the council’s network for community use since 2014 but a number of residents have been left unable to leave home for fear of falling on the icy pavements in recent weeks.

Labour’s spokesperson for community and enterprise, Cllr Margaret Walker (Cambuslang West) warned that the problem could get worse if proposed cuts are pushed through when the council decides its budget in March.

She added: “The past few days have shown how much we all depend on council workers to keep paths gritted and to keep Lanarkshire moving. When they are under-manned or the service is disrupted, even essential journeys can become treacherous and people can end up in hospital.

“It is absolutely clear that further cuts to gritting and winter maintenance will make us all less safe and make our communities less resilient. Whether it’s key workers who need to travel to care for people in their own homes or those of us who are just trying to get through the cold spells, we all need a level of service that is appropriate for the winters we face.

“After a decade of austerity, frontline workers are being stretched and these latest proposals to cut back gritting and stop issuing grit bins will only make their job harder.

These are astounding, chilling, ice cold cuts that the council is only having to consider because the SNP have repeatedly and catastrophically failed to protect council budgets and defend our communities.

Labour's Malcolm Cunning: Ask yourself why your pavement is like an ice rink...

“If we want to keep South Lanarkshire safe and strong then all councillors have to unite in standing up against the cuts and working for a better kind of politics in which we lift each other out of austerity.”

Head of roads and transportation services, Gordon Mackay, said: “Our teams have been out working round the clock in exceptional circumstances during the current cold spell, and it is correct that at the moment we treat 51 per cent of our roads and 3.5 per cent of our pavements.

“This reflects the core elements of the council’s winter maintenance policy, previously agreed by the council, and the resources available for gritting activity in terms of gritting fleet, drivers and salt supply are currently designed to deliver that level of service albeit we will seek to do more as circumstances allow."