Communities are to be given more power over snow clearing operations in the Mearns.
There was widespread concern last winter the severity of the conditions was such that the council’s resources alone were able to manage, leaving many communities with relatively few grit treatments.
The cost to Aberdeenshire of last winter’s snow clearing operation was more than £7 million which culminated in measures to mitigate the effects of the Beast from the East in February.
Following discussions between officers and SNP Mearns councillor Leigh Wilson, a paper has been prepared for the infrastructure services meeting on Thursday.
The Snow Warden scheme would be extended and community groups would be given access to grit spreaders as well as relevant personal protective equipment.
The paper will also aim to create greater communication with community councils to publicise the scheme, as well the guidance which accompanies it.
Greater identification of where the nearest grit bins can be found, via an online mapping system, has also been earmarked.
The council also aims to improve its overall communication strategy in winter months with an increased social media presence and more localised information, as well as gritter tracking information to give members of the public information on which roads have received treatment and the real time status of gritting lorries.
Mr Wilson said: “Local community groups are being asked to do more to support themselves but they often don’t have the resources to let them do it.
“We had a particularly severe winter last year and we have to be prepared in case we have similarly bad conditions again.
“I have been talking to officers regarding expanding the Snow Warden scheme and it looks like they have listened because it seems communities will now be given more resources to keep their pathways clear.
“The council gritters obviously focus on primary, priority roads but every road is a priority for someone and it is important that local residents have the resources to keep themselves safe in the winter months.
“It is important to set up this system now so that we are on the front foot and can pro-actively take action rather than simply reacting after a problem has been identified.”
Mr Wilson said some elderly people were “prisoners in their own home” last winter because their pavements were covered in sheet ice and received little treatment.
“I think the roads department do try their best and the main roads generally see a good coverage of grit, but if the council don’t have the ability they once did to provide coverage in more residential areas, then they have to let communities take control and give them the facilities to do the job – and I’m glad this now seems to be the case.”
