Residents hit out at council over advice to 'wear shoes with good grip' during icy weather

A council's advice for those venturing onto icy streets this weekend has met with a frosty response. Salford town hall has issued a warning on its website that as temperatures plunge people should take precautions.

Repeating advice from NHS Greater Manchester it suggests people should wear shoes with a good grip and hats and gloves, and make sure driveways are cleared of ice and snow. But it has triggered an icy backlash from locals.

They point out that many roads and pavements in the city are treacherous as they have not been gritted by the council.

One resident posted in reply: "There would be far less chance of falling if the pavements were gritted as well as the roads, taking into consideration that we don’t all drive and have to walk sometimes considerable distances to the bus stop is it really really too much to ask, we all pay our council tax for this service so we all should get the same benefit."

Another commented: "If the council cleansing dept did their bit and cleared the leaves up properly between November and December, that would be one less slip, trip and fall hazard, wouldn't it."

Salford council said its gritting teams have been out on all primary and secondary routes in the city.

One local was incensed by the advice on footwear, posting: "How about don't tell us to wear shoes with a good grip when clearly we know this.... how about get people out gritting the pavements and the roads for our safety. my child who is 7 went flying today on the icy public pavement and this is what we pay council tax for to walk on public pavement safely - might just stop paying my council tax oh better not as youse will send me a letter about court joke get it sorted!"

Another resident said: "I have shoes with grip and