Kildare County Council has no resources to make slippy footpaths safer

Kildare County Council has rejected a request to grit footpaths in the interests of pedestrian safety.

Threats to safety presented by frost and ice prompted the request from Cllr Bill Clear who asked that the council start “gritting of main footpaths in Naas area towns.”

This should be done in light of the reported increase in slips resulting in hospital treatment and “the priority being given to pedestrians in the active travel hierarchy.”

He told a Naas Municipal District meeting that gritting machinery could do this along with gritting the roads.

If it’s not done, he added, people will end up in hospital.

He was supported by Cllr Colm Kenny, who said that given the emphasis on encouraging people to walk or cycle instead of driving footpaths and cycle lanes would be gritted.

Cllr Fintan Brett called for the council to make boxes of salt or grit available to people who are willing to spread in their local areas - something Cllr Carmel Kelly said is being done in Mayo.

But KCC says that it can’t accede to the request “due to limited resources.”

It currently operates 10 routes within its winter maintenance programme, treating approximately 680 km of roads in the county. 

“This requires a significant input of resources, including 25 drivers, vehicles, equipment, technical and administrative staff and operates at a considerable cost (€670,000 last year)."

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