VOTE: Worthing gripped by ice '“ with readers' pictures

Sharon Clarke, Worthing town centre manager, said she was "disappointed" with the county council's claim that the town centre was not "high priority" for gritting or salting.

"Their view was it wasn't high priority. They had to give priority to roads, as a road accident could be potentially more serious," she said.

"However, as it was the last Saturday before Christmas and footfall was expected to be high, we were disappointed with that reaction because we are putting a lot of people at risk."

Road priority

A spokeswoman for Worthing Council said tidy teams, which were usually sent to keep the town centre streets clean, were being redeployed on Monday (December 20) to clear ice.

A county council spokesman said resources were "fully stretched" in what he described as "an unusually prolonged bout of snow and ice".

He added: "The resources we are able to bring to bear on minor routes, residential roads and pavements is limited.

"On the issue of pavements, because of parked cars and pedestrians using the footway, gritting is best done by hand '“ which is labour intensive."

Footbridge cleared

A Tarring artist inspired a community de-icing of a railway footbridge after discovering the hard way how icy it was.

Dan Thompson was returning to his Lanfranc Road home on Saturday, December 19, when he slipped and fell down steps on Jacob's Ladder, the footbridge between Tarring Road and Becket Road.

He invited volunteers to help him clear the bridge of the dangerous ice.

Among the helpers the following morning was Worthing's internet radio star Richard Vobes.

"We cleared one half of the steps to save time, but people could easily see which half to walk on and hold the handrail. Everybody who came across as we were working was very thrilled and very pleased.

Dangerous pavements

Nicole Bindon, Angola Road, Worthing: "The council spreads salt on the roads so cars are safe, yet they don't do anything to help the citizens when they're trying to walk on dangerous icy pavements and injuring themselves.

"I think it's ridiculous how we're supposed to try to get ourselves from A to B, when we have to walk in fear of slipping because we don't have transport."

Mrs L. Cobb, Franklin Road, Worthing: "I know it is not cheap to supply gritters on all roads, but if a sack of grit was left at the ends of really iced-up roads, I am sure that many residents would be pleased to spread this over pavements to stop many poor souls breaking their necks."

Roger Hunter, Sherbrooke Close, Durrington: "Montague Street, as always, gets no sun and the council should, by now, know this.

"They have not only let the shoppers down, but also our beleaguered shops and stores on the last important shopping Saturday of the year."

Have your say

Could more have been done to prepare Worthing for the extreme weather?

Vote yes or no in the panel to the right of the screen.

What do you think?

Should people be responsible for clearing the pavement and road outside their home?

What should West Sussex County Council do to make roads safe?

Share your views, comment below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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