Desperate locals turn to table salt to ease ice woes

With grit and rock salt in short supply residents are said to be frantically snapping up supplies of the condiment to clear roads and footpaths of ice.

Several shop owners were out of stock of table salt on Monday afternoon.

One Ballymoney proprietor said: "We've never seen the likes of it.

"It seems people are desperate to get walkways and drives clear of ice and snow despite the financial cost in doing so.

"We ran out several days ago and have struggled to get more stock from the wholesalers so far."

The Times office was inundated over the past fortnight by calls from desperate locals urging someone to take responsibility for the large scale salting of roads and footpaths in Ballymoney and Moyle.

"This is an absolutely disgraceful situation," said one irate caller.

"What are we paying our rates and taxes for?"

Another said: "It's simply not good enough for Road Service and council to finger point.

"Something needs sorted and quickly. People are being made prisoners in their own homes."

One Ballymoney pensioner told us she had been housebound for eight days rendering her unable to get out for her groceries.

Road Service, business chiefs, council bosses and local political representatives met last Thursday evening to discuss the devastating impact the recent big freeze was having in Ballymoney.

Thick ice and snow in recent weeks has lead to treacherous conditions, most notably on footpaths in the centre of the town.

The inclement weather is also said to be having a devastating impact on trade, with many locals saying have been prevented from carrying out their usual shop.

Commenting on the meeting between Road Service, Ballymoney Borough Council and the Chamber of Commerce, North Antrim DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said: "It was extremely useful to have this meeting following on from the horrendous conditions experienced over the Christmas holidays and the ongoing problems being faced by so many people even yet.

"While unfortunately the meeting raised more questions than answers it was useful to try and get some understanding of the responsibilities from each of the agencies.

"We have agreed to meet again and have considered a action plan that could lead to a more co- ordained approach if and when we would experience such adverse weather again.

"We need to find a resolution to these problems and I am determined that will be the outcome from these meetings."

The Chief Executive of Ballymoney Council was due to give a report on the meeting last night (Monday).