Councillors in Brighton and Hove are urging for better grit management during snow to keep residents safe and connected
Brighton: Councillors are saying that Brighton and Hove really need to step up their grit game when the snow hits. They’re pushing for more grit bins and better planning to help folks living on the outskirts.
Next Thursday, a motion will be presented to the full council. Green councillor Raphael Hill and independent councillor Mark Earthey want to see a report on where more grit bins can be placed.
Recently, many grit bins were found filled with rubbish when residents needed them most during the cold snap. There were also complaints about the roads not being gritted properly when it snowed on January 8.
The council claimed that any grit would have been washed away by rain before the snow arrived. But Hill and Earthey believe the council can do better. They also want to adjust traffic light timings to help with the traffic mess during snowy weather.
People took to social media to share their frustrations about the gridlock that happened during the snowfall. The motion highlights how the heavy snow made it hard for some areas to stay connected.
Currently, the gritting priority focuses on main roads and bus routes, but the councillors argue that the steepness of roads should also be considered. They’re also concerned about the safety of pedestrians on ungritted sidewalks.
They want the council to gather feedback from residents on how they handled the snowfall and to thank community members who helped others, especially farmers who assisted stranded cars in Woodingdean.
The full council meeting will kick off at 4:30 PM next Thursday at Hove Town Hall, and it’ll be streamed online for those who want to tune in.
