Madam, – Is it too much to expect that our main roads as well as urban roads and footpaths are salted or gritted to safe levels during the current winter conditions? It may be understandable though still unacceptable that rural roads are ignored by our councils.
The consequences of the slippery roads and pavements are numerous. Our AE departments are filled with fracture victims, each with a cost, both financially as well as personal. Many elderly people with hip fractures will die as a result of ensuing complications.
Each road death is estimated to cost the economy at least €1 million, not to mention the impact on families. What is the cost to the insurance industry, already facing huge costs post November flooding? This is passed on to the public eventually.
Whatever the councils or National Roads Authority saved by not salting or gritting our roads is more than exceeded by costs in lives lost, lives destroyed and future compensation claims.
The weather was forecast, there are no excuses. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Is it possible that this prolonged cold spell, directly after the Copenhagen summit on climate change, is God’s way of simultaneously showing a sense of humour, and a certain disdain for politicians? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Any government worth its salt should be able to handle two inches of snow.
Blaming storms and freezing temperatures in other countries for the lack of salt in Ireland is like blaming the failure of our economy on other countries (which this Government did).
If Government ministers could meet their constituents on the icy roads around the country, they would definitely get a frosty reception. Take advice from this Government with a grain of salt – if you can find any. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – A couple of inches of snow is a “crisis” and an “emergency”? Let’s drop the whiny dependency culture, take some driver-training, fit snow tyres and stop blaming the Government for the weather. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It is with some nervous anticipation that I turn most mornings to the Letters page of The Irish Timesto ascertain the mood of the nation, or at least of those residents of the nation who read your paper.
I note on Tuesday the columns were devoted to our indignation that not every foot of public thoroughfare has been made safe from snow and ice, in this period of most uncommon weather.
And so it is that, with even more nervous anticipation, but also a little glee, I await the reaction of the nation when the services of the many other public offices whose budgets have been reduced fail to meet our expectations. – Yours, etc,