Winter seems a long way away, but with input from representatives of the Forest Hill Society, The Tewkesbury Lodge Estate Residents' Association and Cllr Alex Feakes, a review of the Council's gritting operations was undertaken at a meeting last month. This is to be followed up by a Council feedback / review meeting with F M Conway, the contractors responsible for gritting.

Council Officers have agreed that the response to last winter's snow could have been better and a number of measures are proposed to improve things next winter.

Key points are:

1. The Council will explore with Conway's the possibility of using snow chains when needed. F M Conway are willing to try this although they have found they clog quickly. They will also investigate the use of four wheel drive gritting lorries.

2. The Council, through its website and other communications, and local societies, will encourage residents to clear the pavements outside their own homes. Salt will be placed on street corners. Links will be provided to DfT guidance to residents wishing to assist.

3. The Council received several complaints of gritting lorries driving the routes but not spreading. They will investigate how they can ensure salt is being spread including fitting CCTV to allow driver's assistants to monitor spreading.

4. The Council will discuss driver training with F M Conway and require them to demonstrate that all their drivers are fully trained in the use of the available equipment.

5. The Council will look at keeping some key routes clear to provide emergency and walking access even if it proves impossible to keep all of the priority routes open.

These seem to be very positive proposals which, if implemented successfully, can only help to avoid the problems so many of us experienced last winter.