A Transport for London review into the capital’s response to the extreme weather of early February has been tasked with considering establishing London-wide co-ordination of salt-spreading.
The London Assembly’s transport committee this week highlighted that a number London boroughs had identified the need for better co-ordination with TfL, and across highway authority boundaries, on deciding priorities for clearing snow and ice.
On Monday 2 February, the majority of London’s bus services ceased running, given perilous road conditions and unsalted garage access routes following the capital’s heaviest snowfall for at least 20 years of up to 28cm.
However, boroughs said there had been limited information from TfL on the situation with bus services, and on the priorities for gritting, given finite resources – TfL acknowledged that boroughs were ‘working flat out’ – and dwindling salt supplies. Hounslow, for instance, stated that it had only received one e-mail from TfL, on the Monday afternoon.
‘TfL should recognise the essential role of boroughs, and allow us to assist in maintaining or reinstating transport services.’ TfL acknowledged London boroughs had to prioritise the clearing of their principal road networks, and said that if similar circumstances reoccurred, it would clear local roads leading to bus garages. It sent some of its own 35 gritters with plough attachments during the snow falls. The London Assembly committee recommended better co-ordination, and, given that some roads were passable on the 2 February, suggested a core network of bus services could run, if there was similar snowfall again.
Lewisham council had reported to TfL, asking it to spread salt on one of TfL’s own roads, the A2 access ramp, and a road owned by Sainsbury’s supermarkets. A spokesman for London mayor, Boris Johnson, said: ‘We accept there is scope for better co-ordination between TfL, the emergency services and London boroughs.’
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