Tweeddale frozen out of new winter gritting plan for Borders

Alan Ferguson • Published 21 Sep 2012 07:30 1 Comment

TWEEDDALE has escaped lightly as many roads are frozen out of the new gritting scheme unfolding this winter in the Borders.

Scottish Borders Council broke the ice on the subject, announcing only two minor Peeblesshire B roads have been demoted from the primary gritting network.

The B7016, from Broughton to Biggar, along with the B709 from Innerleithen to Heriot, have been affected - but they'll still be serviced, but after the primary routes have been.

Across the Borders more than 100 miles have been cut from the prioritized status in a bid cut costs.

But most A and B roads will remain on the priority list, and additional grit bins will be placed around the area - with Tweeddale now having 116 bins.

As well as that, many primary routes will receive further pre-salting in the morning and evenings.

Tweeddale West Councillor Catriona Bhatia said: "It's a reduction of service on these minor roads - but that's not to say they won't be serviced. They'll still be gritted but after the primary roads have been seen to.

"Extra pre-salting has been added along some primary routes with additional salt bins around Tweeddale, so we're still in a good position for the coming winter."

She added: "A lot of work has gone on around the communities here to build up resilience against harsh weather conditions after the bad winter we had a few years ago.

"Generally speaking, when we're affected by heavy snow and the difficulties that come with it, communities tend to take responsibility for their areas."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 21 Sep 12

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• 

  Trikervix
  Unregistered User
  Sep 24, 16:58
  Report comment

  I use the B709 daily and have done for nearly 10 years, I've seen it gritted possibly 3 times in that period!
  
  The road is generally a skating rink and best avoided in winter. Ironically Midlothian Council regularly grit the B7007 (the preferred commuter route to the A7) only to stop at the top of the hill and turn back at the wind farm, leaving unfamiliar drivers in peril as the gritted road goes to ice at the "Welcome to the Borders" sign!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 5     No 0

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