Birmingham City Council has responded to criticism after two teenagers took matters into their own hands to treat icy roads
Birmingham City Council has responded to criticism after two teenagers took matters into their own hands to treat icy roads(Image: Eileen Groome via Getty Images)
Birmingham’s transport chief has said “it’s not possible” for the council to grit every street in the city after icy roads were left untreated in Bartley Green.
The authority was criticised by locals in the area who woke up on Friday to find their streets ungritted following snowfall.
However two quick-thinking teenagers, a boy and a girl, were praised online after they took matters into their own hands by gritting the untreated roads.
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The pair filled a wheelie bin with salted sand taken from a yellow council grit bin and began treating icy streets in their area – including Hasbury Road which was described as “treacherous”.
With more snow expected to hit the West Midlands over the next 24 hours, Coun Majid Mahmood said the city council is “closely monitoring the weather forecast”.
Whilst Hasbury Road is not classed as a ‘priority route’ by the authority, Mr Mahmood praised the teenagers for using their “initiative”.
The cabinet member for environment and transport told BirminghamLive: “We’d like to thank the two young residents who took the initiative to help their community by gritting local roads.
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“We understand the frustration caused by icy conditions and appreciate the concerns raised by residents.
“Our gritting crews were out on Thursday night and again on Friday morning treating priority routes across the city.
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“Unfortunately, it’s not possible to grit every road and we recognise that some residential streets may have remained icy.
“Our teams will be out again gritting priority routes and we’re constantly reviewing our operations to ensure as many roads as possible are gritted or supported with grit bins, helping to keep Birmingham as safe as possible.
“We’re closely monitoring the weather forecast and expect icy conditions to continue.”
