I've lived in Netherby Road for 27 years and the first time the road has ever been 'officially' closed with signs was this year. Historically it, and Canonbie Road, have been high priority for gritting and have generally remained passable. Officially closing the road doesn't mean that people don't still have lives to lead and people will drive in and out if they can. Vehicles have managed to drive up Netherby today, and if a light car can get up the road, I'm sure a heavy gritter can - especially if it is equipped with snow chains. By failing to grit roads for 'Health and Safety' reasons, many people are exposed to significant additional risks - including the inability to deliver meals. Who is calculating the balance of risk? Incidentally, there were no road closed signs out at 5pm.

Lack of common sense by the Council doesn't help - in February after the road was passable by cars, the pavements were still hazardous. So the Council dumped a single load of grit at the bottom of the hill and sent one man out with a shovel (but no barrow) to grit the pavement. Imagine how many miles would have to be walked by the time he had gritted the pavement at the top of the hill one shovel full at a time!