More salt on the dinner than local roads - Mayo councillor

A MAYO councillor put more salt on his Sunday dinner than was put out on the local roads in his area over the cold snap.

Achill Councillor Paul McNamara made the observation at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting on Monday where he said we cannot have a situation again where rural areas are shut down and inaccessible.

A new plan has to be devised for Mayo, he said, citing other counties where salt is put into communities and spread by local people.

Councillor McNamara said whole sections of the community in his area were not accessible, highlighting its older population, with 75% of people over 65. Some elderly couldn't have people attend until late in the day when roads thawed a bit.

The lifeboat station was on a local road and nothing could be done. Had the crew been called out they wouldn't have been able to get there.

Eighty per cent of national schools are on local roads and the majority had to close.

Councillor Gerry Coyle said you'd put more salt on your eggs than went out in Belmullet, and it was sad to see half the county coming to a standstill

No fire brigade would have been able to go through Doohoma, and he received a call from a home help who was stuck.

The local road is as important to the local people as the national roads and they had to be more prepared, he stated.

Councilor Brendan Mulroy said in Kerry, the council deposits grit at 75 locations and have the community set up to spread it.

A better plan is needed in Mayo, and they couldn't have this situation going into the future.

During the debate compliments were paid by councillors to the gritting teams who were out in very difficult conditions, putting their own lives in danger.

They had faced 'atrocious' conditions, said Councillor Peter Flynn, in what had been unprecedented weather, with rain and freezing temperatures, answering calls as best as possible.

Municipal district head Padraig Walsh said Mayo County Council treats about 1,100km of its 6,600km roads networks, including 3% of local roads, at a cost of over €1 million. Scaling up would involve a massive investment.

They do their best with the resources, budget and winter services plan, which was adopted by elected representatives.

Councillor McNamara suggested there should also be emergency funding. People were asking why they pay property tax and it was hard to give them an answer.

It was suggested that the roads policy committee could look at the winter plan.