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| 'No road grit left' says council | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government has insisted there are "very substantial" supplies of salt and grit for Scotland's roads, as Fife Council said it had run out. | |
| Motoring groups predicted more travel misery as people return to work in the coming days after the festive break. | Motoring groups predicted more travel misery as people return to work in the coming days after the festive break. |
| Fife Council said the "most prolonged period" of freezing weather for 20 years had left supplies exhausted. | |
| But Finance Secretary John Swinney said there was plenty of salt available but there were issues around delivery. | |
| Additional supply | Additional supply |
| The minister said there were "pinch-points" but 18 councils would receive supplies in the next two days. | |
| "From the information I have, the delivery of salt is expected to Fife tomorrow. So we will be helping Fife Council to make sure they get over the particular difficulties they have got," Mr Swinney said. | |
| He added: "There is a lot of supply around, we just have to make sure it is in the right places. | He added: "There is a lot of supply around, we just have to make sure it is in the right places. |
| "That is why the resilience unit of the Scottish government has collated the information about where salt supplies exist about grit supplies and we will work as best we can to make sure that supply reaches the right parts of Scotland." | "That is why the resilience unit of the Scottish government has collated the information about where salt supplies exist about grit supplies and we will work as best we can to make sure that supply reaches the right parts of Scotland." |
| However, Bob McLellan, head of transportation at Fife Council, told the BBC there was "virtually no salt left at all". | |
| He said: "We have been aware since before Christmas of the levels of salt going down dramatically. | |
| "We have been liaising with all other councils and with the Scottish government's resilience unit, with a view to trying to secure more salt for Fife. | |
| "At the moment, we have carried out one last pre-grit and we have run out." | |
| We have been let down quite badly by our supplier Bob McLellanFife Council | |
| Mr McLellan said the council was expecting a delivery on Tuesday but did not know how large that would be. | |
| He added: "If our salt stock had been at the levels they should have been we would have been alright for four weeks. | |
| "We have been let down quite badly by our supplier but having said that the suppliers are having to keep all the councils in the UK happy in very difficult times." | |
| In the Renfrewshire area drivers and residents have been advised that gritters were concentrating on main routes in order to preserve their stocks. | In the Renfrewshire area drivers and residents have been advised that gritters were concentrating on main routes in order to preserve their stocks. |
| Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council's environment and infrastructure policy board, said: "The move has been prompted by the severity and duration of the freezing weather. | Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council's environment and infrastructure policy board, said: "The move has been prompted by the severity and duration of the freezing weather. |
| "Like other councils we are having to prioritise the use of our available resources. | "Like other councils we are having to prioritise the use of our available resources. |
| "The fact that there appears to be little prospect of an imminent let up in the freezing conditions means that we have to concentrate on main routes for the time being. | "The fact that there appears to be little prospect of an imminent let up in the freezing conditions means that we have to concentrate on main routes for the time being. |
| "We will not be in a position to salt minor roads or fill grit bins." | "We will not be in a position to salt minor roads or fill grit bins." |
| Resilience unit | Resilience unit |
| Scottish Labour transport spokesman Charlie Gordon said: "The Scottish government appears to be saying this morning that everything is under control but the evidence does not support that with many roads and pavements still covered by snow and ice. | Scottish Labour transport spokesman Charlie Gordon said: "The Scottish government appears to be saying this morning that everything is under control but the evidence does not support that with many roads and pavements still covered by snow and ice. |
| "With more freezing temperatures on their way it's vital that the government acts to keep Scotland moving." | "With more freezing temperatures on their way it's vital that the government acts to keep Scotland moving." |
| BBC Scotland contacted local authorities in Scotland over the weekend. | BBC Scotland contacted local authorities in Scotland over the weekend. |
| Aberdeen City Council said supplies were satisfactory and Aberdeenshire Council said grit levels were low but they were expecting a new delivery. | Aberdeen City Council said supplies were satisfactory and Aberdeenshire Council said grit levels were low but they were expecting a new delivery. |
| North Lanarkshire said supplies were low and East Dunbartonshire said they had enough for two or three days. | |
| Edinburgh, Glasgow and Highland reported no problems with supplies. | Edinburgh, Glasgow and Highland reported no problems with supplies. |
| Are you in the affected areas? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the affected areas? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |