Councillors in the Letterkenny-Milford district have called for urgent discussions over gritting routes as the winter season begins.
Donegal County Council’s winter maintenance season began on Monday, but there has been disappointment over a lack of consultation on this year’s routes.
The gritting map for 2020/21 will remain the same as last year, despite calls from some local councillors for key areas to be added on.
Letterkenny-Milford representatives raised their concerns with the Roads Department yesterday and asked why members were not afforded the opportunity to discuss routes before they were finalised.
Cllr Ciaran Brogan pointed out that new councillors elected in May 2019 have not yet had a chance to request for routes to be added or to learn how certain routes are chosen over others.
“I am asking that we contact senior management in Roads and send a directive that we want an urgent discussion on this,” Cllr Brogan said.
The gritting route may not be amended until after April 2021, when the current season ends. However, a number of councillors have claimed that their calls to include certain roads have fallen on deaf ears.
Cllr Liam Blaney recently made calls for the road from Kerrykeel to Glenvar and the top of Shankey at Knockalla to be put on the priority list.
Cllr Ian McGarvey also expressed his disappointment that dangerous areas of Ramelton have not been covered this year.
Cllr Donal Coyle added that he could not understand why a section of road from Lismonaghan up to Listillion could not be gritted.
In response, councillors were told that the Winter Maintenance programme is administered and funded on a county basis but their comments will be brought to Roads Central in Lifford.