Council leader Councillor Ken Thornber, has asked officers to report on tripling salt bins in Hampshire from 2000 to 6000 at a cost of £800,000 to be met from reserves used for emergencies. These bins would be allocated in areas selected by parish councils or other responsible organisations. They would be used by residents to treat slippery pavements or minor roads in the most severe of cold weather. Requests for salt bins should initially be made via local parish councils or other legitimate community groups.
If there is no local group or they are not prepared to sponsor a request for a salt bin, the local highways unit can use its discretion to provide a bin, provided there is a clear highway benefit in doing so.
The site for a bin will be considered by the County Council taking into account several factors, such as:
- The bin must not obstruct sight lines
- There must be sufficient space for the bin and for safe salt replenishment
- There must be sufficient traffic and/or pedestrian use
- The bin must not be placed on an existing Priority 1 salting route.
Once approval has been granted, the following responsibilities apply:
- Public Body
- Purchase of bin
- Requests for re-filling of bin
- Use of bin for treatment of the highway (including monitoring)
- County Council Highways Unit
- Installation of bin and filling with salt
- Re-filling of bin following request from public body, or during periods of adverse weather.
Should a site prove problematic, for example, if there is regular use of salt for the treatment of private driveways, the County Council reserves the right to remove the bin.
Last Updated on Thursday, 05 January 2012 13:30
