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Attacks threaten North Lanarkshire's gritter service | Attacks threaten North Lanarkshire's gritter service |
(about 7 hours later) | |
One of Scotland's largest councils has warned it could stop gritting some roads because of attacks on gritting lorries and their drivers. | One of Scotland's largest councils has warned it could stop gritting some roads because of attacks on gritting lorries and their drivers. |
North Lanarkshire Council has already stopped regularly gritting in one area because of safety concerns. | North Lanarkshire Council has already stopped regularly gritting in one area because of safety concerns. |
The local authority has said it will do the same in other places if it has to. | The local authority has said it will do the same in other places if it has to. |
In the worst incident, the windscreen of a gritter was smashed when a man punched through it. The driver narrowly avoided injury. | In the worst incident, the windscreen of a gritter was smashed when a man punched through it. The driver narrowly avoided injury. |
Driver David Gibson said he had been driving during a night shift when a man walked into the road, obstructing the gritter. | |
"He'd obviously been drinking or taking drugs. He was just in the middle of the road and wouldn't move," he said. | |
"I obviously had to stop and all of a sudden he punched the windscreen and cracked it." | |
The council said attacks on gritters had become a serious concern and it has now declared a zero tolerance policy. | The council said attacks on gritters had become a serious concern and it has now declared a zero tolerance policy. |
David Smart, of North Lanarkshire Council, said the attacks had serious implications and were not simply about "children throwing snowballs". | |
"We could have injuries, and we could have consequences for the communities themselves," he said. | |
"Problems with attacks on gritters could have consequences for emergency services if they couldn't get in to service communities." | |
The local authority is believed to be the first in Scotland to publicly admit areas have not been gritted because of concerns for the safety of staff. | |
The council said roads in the Pather area of Wishaw had not been treated regularly for two years. | The council said roads in the Pather area of Wishaw had not been treated regularly for two years. |
In Cumbernauld mini-tractor drivers were pulled off snow-clearing duties after coming under attack. | In Cumbernauld mini-tractor drivers were pulled off snow-clearing duties after coming under attack. |
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