Proposal to double price of grit bins gets salty response from councillors

Proposals by Meath County Council to increase the price of salt bins and fills of salt to community groups, met with an angry reaction from local councillors.

The council's decision to increase the cost of providing a salt bin with fill of salt to €320 from €170, met with a lot of anger and the proposal has now been referred to the Transport Strategic Policy Committee for discussion as part of the overall winter gritting scheme.

The council executive had written to councillors last week advising them that due to increases in supply costs, coupled with increase in delivery costs, it was necessary to increase the cost of the provision of salt bins for the first time since 2015. The new cost would be €320 for a bin and a fill of salt, and the delivery of a bin only would be €290.

The salt bins are provided to residents association, schools and community groups, who use them to grit roads and footpaths not treated by the council.

Cllr Nick Killian said the proposed increase in salt bin charges were “extortionate and totally unacceptable and carried out without any consultation with councillors”.

“We as councillors are endeavouring to assist estates create a safer exit onto our main roads by sponsoring the salt bins from our discretionary fund. They are also used on county roads (near groups of houses) which are not gritted.

“The council hasn't thought through the consequences. The people who use these salt bins are residents associations and people living on county roads who are trying to make it safe for cars to exit onto major roads.

“This unacceptable increase puts these salt bins beyond the means of resident's associations,” he said, requesting that the increase be delayed until they had an opportunity to discuss at the March Council meeting.

Cllr Aisling Dempsey said she was very disappointed by the proposal, as she had originally suggested they should be provided free of charge.

“I was very disappointed to receive an email about the prices going up. It would almost double the price. We have since had an update and the prices will not go up in the short term but will be discussed at the Strategic Policy Committee on Transport.”

Cllr Michael Gallagher described the proposed increases as disgraceful. “We are relying on community groups, voluntary groups, who are already under financial pressure to do something we should be doing,” he said.

Cllr Gallagher pointed out that there are many miles of roads in the Kells area that are not gritted and community and voluntary groups are doing their best to make things safer.