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09
Jan
Untreated icy pavements 'putting lives at risk', says Ripon councillor
The ongoing icy conditions have sparked safety and accessibility concerns among Ripon residents.
City councillor and lifelong Ripon resident Pauline McHardy told the Stray Ferret the dangerous state of pavements posed a particular threat to older residents.
Cllr McHardy said people who left home ran the risk of falling, which could lead to broken bones and increase the strain on the NHS.
This week's bitterly cold weather, following heavy snowfall last weekend, have been causing problems for five days now.
Although the main roads in Ripon city centre have been gritted, Cllr McHardy said untreated residential areas and side roads near schools remained treacherous.
She told the Stray Ferret the ice is “putting people’s lives at risk” and felt North Yorkshire Council needed to increase the number of communal grit boxes to speed up the thawing process on side roads and pavements.
Cllr McHardy, who is also a retired nurse, said:
More grit boxes need to be out. The only one I have seen is in Sainsbury’s car park but people can’t necessarily get to the car park in the first place.
Pressure must be put on North Yorkshire Council to get stuff going. I know there might be less staff but that is not the answer when we are paying so much [council tax].
Broken bones can lead to other complications, which puts added pressure on the NHS.
As sub-zero temperatures are set to continue, the frozen snow and sheet ice see no sign of thawing.
Cllr McHardy urged people to “be kind to others” and help elderly or more vulnerable residents. She told the Stray Ferret:
If you’re living next to someone vulnerable, just knock on their door and ask if they need any help. My neighbour gritted my driveway – it was so kind.
Everyone should feel unsafe leaving the house at the moment. It might be fine on someone’s road when they’re leaving the house, but it’s when they get into Ripon and aren’t aware of what the pavements might be like.
There’s also the other side of the coin for those who can’t stay at home because their houses are so cold.
Ice on the Iron Bridge pavement at Bondgate and Bedern Bank.
‘Accessibility is at the bottom of the priority list’
Jeremy Dunford, members’ representative at Ripon Disability Forum, told the Stray Ferret he had not seen a single wheelchair or mobility scooter user out in the city since the snow started to fall last weekend.
Mr Dunford, who uses a wheelchair, is able to use a car and get around the city. However, those who cannot drive or access a car are stuck at home, or run the risk of hurting themselves on the pavements, Mr Dunford said.
He added:
The more residential areas and roads around schools are not accessible, and the surfaces are not safe. It feels as though drivers take priority over pedestrians.
Grit bins need to be promoted more so people know they’re there. The council could re-direct staff to the grit bins too.
Mr Dunford told the Stray Ferret those living in isolated communities will feel increasingly isolated as long as the freezing weather continues, especially people who cannot walk into villages or towns.
He added:
Accessibility is at the bottom of the priority list. But this is not just a Ripon thing, it’s a wide-spread issue that needs a wide-spread resolution.
The Stray Ferret has covered the weather and its ongoing impacts at length this week.
We have published three live blogs with updates on school closures, travel disruption and local attractions affected by the snow and ice. We have also pressed North Yorkshire Council for updates on what it is doing to treat the roads and pavements.
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