Council officials have proposed putting “greater emphasis” on clearing footpaths during heavy snowfall and ice after treacherous conditions caused chaos in Harrogate last winter.

North Yorkshire Council came under fire in January when pavements and minor roads in the Harrogate district were left in treacherous conditions after temperatures plummeted to lows of minus 12 degrees.

The wintry weather caused schools to close and residents told the Stray Ferret the conditions were “absolutely lethal”.

Some said they felt trapped at home and struggled to get to health centres.

Following a review of its response, authority bosses have drawn up a list of proposals to “enhance how the council delivers its winter service”.

Among them include a “greater emphasis on footway clearance” during snow and “greater use of mechanical equipment to clear and treat footways”.

According to a report due before an environment executive meeting on Friday, the council estimates that the proposals would cost £60,520 for seven days of extreme snow.

There would also be a one-off cost of £61,200 to purchase equipment, such as salt spreaders.

The proposals in full:

• Greater emphasis on footway clearance & treatment on Category 1 footway routes during snow events
  
• Review provision for footway treatments in proximity to Category 1 footway routes and other key locations during prolonged / sustained winter weather events
  
• Greater use of mechanical equipment to clear and treat footways in urban centres
  
• Promoting winter / community gritting partnerships, including (but not limited to) parish and town councils, BIDs and other local resident / business group
  
• Review resource availability within NY Highways & North Yorkshire Council in order to create a larger resource pool during extreme weather events
  
• Formalise access arrangements to personnel from other North Yorkshire Council departments to assist, and set triggers for enacting that assistance
  
• Enhancing existing winter service communications and initiatives, to include guidance on preparation for winter, snow clearance, myth busting and winter partnerships
  
• Review extent to which pre-treatments can be undertaken in advance of significant weather events
  
• Review criteria for grit bins, reinforce use on the public highway, QR codes for refills
  

The report recommends that officers choose which proposals to add to the council’s winter service plan in consultation with Cllr Malcolm Taylor, executive councillor for highways.

The move comes as the council defended its response to the heavy snowfall and ice in a report published in July.

Businesses in Harrogate town centre claimed the authority should have done more to make the town safer and encourage people to visit.

But, Nigel Smith, head of highway operations at the council, described the heavy snow in January as “an exceptional event” which “challenged” the authority’s resources, in particular for footpaths.

He said:

Mr Smith said Harrogate was a “particularly challenging” area for footway treatments due to “widespread freezing” of footpaths.

However, Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said the review failed to recognise the impact on people.