Ian Miller blasts “no salt for the roads” rumours

Jan 19 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

RUMOURS that Perthshire’s winter salt supply has neared exhaustion were rubbished by a council figurehead yesterday.

Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller spoke out after the local authority came in for praise from Scottish Borders Council – whose own stocks were last week on the brink of disappearing – for loaning 100 tonnes of vital road grit.

Revealing that the local authority has also sent out a series of emergency salt containments to public bodies across the east of Scotland, Mr Miller strenuously rebuffed widely-circulating claims that the Big County’s stock had run perilously low following the New Year cold snap.

While claiming “very careful management” of the Perthshire supply had made such gestures possible, he stressed that he expected a swift pay-back.

“Our salt stocks have always been healthy and we have never been in any danger of running low,” Mr Miller declared.

“Our first priority will always be to make sure that we have enough salt and grit to treat the roads in Perth and Kinross, but we will help out other local authorities and public bodies whenever we can.

“On this occasion we were in a position to help out Scottish Borders, and we were very happy to be able to do that.

“This excellent management of our grit and salt supplies also meant we have been able to come to the assistance of Fife Council, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside during the cold spell.

“For instance, we made sure that NHS Tayside had enough grit and salt to make sure the roads and pathways at Perth Royal Infirmary were cleared.

“This was vitally important to patients and staff who needed to get to PRI.

“We have only ever given supplies to other bodies when we know we will manage without the amount given before our next delivery.

“The action we took to assist other public bodies never resulted in a shortage of stock within Perth and Kinross, and we will have the salt returned when the other public bodies receive their next supply.”

Mr Miller said priority routes had been kept open during the big freeze, with side roads and residential routes cleared at the earliest opportunity.

“Our staff continue to work extremely hard to ensure that our roads and footways are kept clear as the winter goes on,” he added.

Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker yesterday confirmed PKC’s support.

“It is a very nice gesture that they have stepped in to assist us at this time and we are all very grateful to them,” he said.