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Cork County Council are running an initiative to provide salt bins to housing estates. Photo: File

With the approach of winter, thoughts turn to bad weather and the hopes that we won't experience a big freeze like the one in December 2010 when the country was blanketed in snow and icy conditions prevailed.

One of the biggest stories of the time in the news was salt; the country's lack of it, the Government's attempts to get more supplies, the cost of it, its effectiveness etc. Certainly the Government came in for some considerable flack for not being prepared with adequate supplies.

Something that Cork County Council has been doing every since though - and it's an initiative that appears to have gone largely unnoticed - is to provide salt bins in housing estates. They have ten to give out to each electoral area.

Details of the initiative were given to members of the Fermoy electoral area committee of the county council at their recent meeting. Members were told there'd been no take-up on the scheme last year or the year before.

Under the scheme, one bin is provided per estate while available. The location is to be agreed with the area engineer. If necessary, estates will be prioritised on the bases of the number of houses and the gradients in the estate.

To avail of the offer, residents associations and/or community councils must apply, in writing, to their local area engineer before November 29 in order to be considered for this year. Councils will only deal with those groups that are prepared to take responsibility for the bin, its contents and the business of spreading the salt if and when required. Requests from individuals or ad hoc groups won't be considered.

The 800 litre bin will be provided with a lock but shovels or any other tools aren't included. An initial payment of €50 will be required for the bin and salt stock. That's a subsidy of 80% of the cost that's borne by the council. If refills of salt are required they'll cost €20 per load.

The maintenance and safe operation of any salting will be the responsibility of the residents associations/community councils and, where applicable, they will be required to obtain the consent of residents adjacent to where the bin will be positioned. Cork County Council accepts no responsibility for the maintenance or upkeep of the bin. The council also reserves the right to remove any bin that may be causing an obstruction, nuisance or is being abused in any way.

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