KCC's slow' snow response

KENT County Council (KCC) has been heavily criticised by Gravesham cabinet members over its handling of the situation caused by the heavy snowfall.

Councillors branded it "diabolical" blaming KCC for being too slow in dealing with the heavy falls of snow of January 8.

Their concerns included a lack of gritting lorries, the council's ignorance of the weather situation in Gravesend and the storing of grit as far away as Swanley.

The cabinet was especially scathing about KCC being too slow to react, not declaring a snow-emergency until noon, despite snow falling in Gravesend from 7.30am.

Councillor Jean Christie said: "They don't know when it's snowing in Gravesend despite a £1bn budget. Perhaps we should club together to buy them a telly."

When the county council's three gritters and four lorries were brought into action at 10am in response to what KCC thought were just icy roads, Gravesend was already gridlocked.

In its defence the county council stated Meteorological Office reports predicted 3cm of snow, not the 15cm which actually fell and added the snow fell earlier than predicted meaning cars were already on the roads when the blizzard started.

Councillor Ernest Brook said: "It's a diabolical situation and a nonsense for them to have to go to Swanley for grit. KCC should be star-rated zero."

Grahame Weston, KCC's cabinet member for strategic planning, said: "I sympathise with the people of Gravesham who suffered considerable inconvenience."

He added KCC reacted first thing that morning arranging extra resources as soon as sufficient information became available.

The cabinet has resolved the matter with KCC and recommended a number of action points to avoid such problems in the future.

January 28, 2003 11:30