Dublin councillor says ‘treacherous’ footpaths need to be gritted urgently

The councillor has described the icy paths as "treacherous for all who use them".

Green Party Councillor Janet Horner has spoken out about the danger of un-gritted footpaths, saying that a change of policy is urgently needed. In a post on her website, Horner writes:

Like so many others, I have been really frustrated over the past few days as the temperatures have plummeted and our footpaths have become incredible dangerous and icy. Dublin City Council currently has a policy of only gritting the road carriageways when conditions are icy to make it safer to drive but they do not grit the footpaths. This leave the paths treacherous for all who use them.

The Councillor added that the current policy "flies in the face of the hierarchy of street users", pointing out that DCC believe in prioritising cycling and walking, but that the current state of the footpaths confines pedestrians and cyclists to their 'often freezing' homes. https://twitter.com/JanetPHorner/status/1602261198052917251?s=20&t=u6O8h_IxKRPBz02NoXq-6w She also said that claims the current gritting regime focuses on keeping public transport moving don't add up, as "the paths surrounding our transport hubs have been some of the most inaccessible due to slippiness over the past few days, rendering it effectively unusable for many". Horner also pointed out that the cost of treating people who have been injured by slipping on the ice is twice as high as the cost to grit the footpaths would be. Last week, Fingal Councillor Joan Hopkins expressed similar concerns regarding Dublin footpaths, saying the current regime "will have to change": https://twitter.com/hopkins_joan/status/1601313627830910976?s=20&t=marrUKw6jwGl41DlwOD4yg With icy weather conditions continuing to affect roads and footpaths across Ireland there have been a number of calls for footpaths to be gritted on social media. One Twitter user wrote: "Please, for the sake of preventing a surge in fractures, please grit the footpaths. A hip fracture has a 25% mortality at 1 year. Gritting the footpaths is a public health measure". https://twitter.com/colmpbyrne/status/1601534368631005184?s=20&t=marrUKw6jwGl41DlwOD4yg Another said: "Is there a reason they don’t grit footpaths in icy weather? Why is it just roads? Am I missing something or is it just another instance of ‘if ur not on ur way to spend/earn money, we do not care about u’".  https://twitter.com/EveBelleSongs/status/1602253066815905792?s=20&t=marrUKw6jwGl41DlwOD4yg Header image via Shutterstock  READ NEXT: DSPCA appeal for 'happy loving home' for cat with cancer