Safety concerns after developer removes Elgin grit bins
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SAFETY concerns have been raised after grit bins were removed from a new housing development in Elgin.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston was contacted by residents at Linkwood, part of a new housing development to the east of Elgin, after grit bins were removed by the developer. Residents fear that accidents could occur and emergency vehicles could face difficulty getting access in wintry weather.
The Conservative has written to developer Barratts and Moray Council. He said that until Barratts takes action to re-install the grit bins, Moray Council should step in.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: "Moray Council has installed grit bins on the adopted roads, but that has left residents on the unadopted roads vulnerable to the effects of wintry weather.
"Despite having initially included grit bins in the development, it appears that the developer concerned decided to remove them before the roads were adopted.
"Whether they live on adopted or unadopted roads, local residents pay their council tax to Moray Council and should expect to receive the services that their neighbours receive.
"My fear is that, if the weather deteriorates, the risk of local people being injured on these untreated roads or pavements only increases. And there is the real possibility of emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, finding these roads unusable."
Stephen Cooper, head of environmental and commercial services at Moray Council, said in a letter to Mr Halcro Johnston: "There were, until recently, 12 grit bins at various locations within the development. The majority of those bins were provided by the developers when the roads were constructed, and Moray Council later assumed ownership of those on the roads that were later adopted.
"We were contacted by a number of residents recently saying that the grit bins had gone, and they thought that the council had removed them.
"After some investigation we discovered that Barratts had removed the grit bins following a national decision by the company to do so. They had removed all 12 grit bins within the development, seven of which were located on adopted roads, and five on unadopted roads that they are still responsible for maintaining."
Mr Cooper said the council put out new grit bins last week on the adopted roads after unsuccessful attempts to get Barratts to re-install bins.
However, he said the council has no winter maintenance responsibility for the unadopted roads within the development so would not be providing grit bins on those.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: "Whether it’s Moray Council or Barratts who provide the grit bins will be of little concern to local residents. They just want a service they pay for, and are entitled to, provided."
