Perthshire residents have been encouraged to help clear their roads and paths this winter.
The plea from local councillors was made as a committee approved plans for gritting and clearing Perth and Kinross roads and footways for winter 2021/22.
Perth and Kinross Council’s environment and infrastructure committee met virtually to discuss the plans on Wednesday, August 18.
The committee was told 910km of the local authority’s 2500km road network is designated as a high priority for winter service.
The report put before the committee said “some very low priority carriageways and footways are normally not treated unless hard-packed snow or ice threatens to prevent access for essential services.”
PKC has voluntary arrangements in place with 42 farmers it supplies with snow ploughs fitted to their own vehicles to clear specified public roads and their own private roads.
However the committee was told this had dropped from 68 volunteer farmers due to the required documentation not being submitted.
PKC officers have said they will seek to re-engage with those farmers who did not submit insurance and driver details.
In addition 28 farmers have shown an interest in clearing additional lengths of road.
Criminal Justice Community Payback services, council greenspace and housing colleagues will also be available to help communities clear snow.
Liberal Democrat councillor Lewis Simpson asked what training could be given to encourage members of the public to use the council’s push-along barrows.
The committee’s convener Cllr Angus Forbes said he was planning to work with officers on how to encourage residents to volunteer.
Prior to last winter 26 push-along grit barrows were issued across Perth and Kinross but the figures for last winter were not available.
Road maintenance partnership manager Stuart D’All told councillors PKC had ordered 100 grit bins in preparation for this winter and was confident they would arrive in time.
PKC currently provides around 1600 grit bins for locals to “self-help” but the report described keeping them all fully stocked when demand was high as “challenging.”
Moving the report, Cllr Forbes said PKC received over 2000 requests for help to refill grit bins.
Councillors were told third party contractors, housing repairs and greenspace colleagues all helped refill grit bins last winter.
This winter additional bulk bags of salt will be available on request to supplement the grit bin provision.
Conservative Almond and Earn councillor Kathleen Baird said: “We can do our part to help.”
Sounding like she spoke from her own personal knowledge, Cllr Baird added: “Some farmers have to get their own road cleared before they can get to other roads.”
Cllr Baird urged residents to clear the bits in front of their homes to help their community.
Cllr Simpson added: “If an old man like me can birl one of those barrows then anyone can do it.”
The Strathmore councillor also suggested members of the public stock up on their own grit and sand.
