M.o.T. Promise Review of Grit Dumps
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A FTER submitting a variety of cornfl plaints to the Ministry of Transport suggesting that snow clearance in winter is not given enough attention, Mr. D. L. Edward, a director of Charles Alexander and Partners, •Ltd., has extracted a promise that the number of sand and grit dumps will be reviewed.
Mr. Edwards listed his complaints in a letter written on behalf of Mr. Charles Alexander to Mr. Hector Hughes, M.P. Among other things he suggested that the military should be called out in winter to help on the roads, and that the police should he compelled to co-operate.
He said existing county council equipment was often weak and outdated, so
more money should be spent on it—the economics of trade and industry should be placed before those of highway authorities. There should also be a 40-fold increase in the systematic siting of sand and grit dumps as present supplies were pitifully inadequate.
Replying through Mr. Hughes, Mr: G. R. H. Nugent, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, said the Governthent were aware that transport had to be kept moving, but there were competing demands for public money. It had to be borne in mind that gritting and sanding equipment was idle most of the year, but expenditure incurred by local authorities had always been met by the Ministry without quibble.
He rejected the idea of calling on the military, and defended the police. However, he promised that the Ministry would see if more could be done on the siting of grit and sand dumps.