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Should Sheffield spend £8m to grit every road if ice returns?
TOWN Hall bosses have drawn up new proposals to keep Sheffield moving in a repeat of this year's big freeze.
Councillors now want residents to have their say on what is being labelled Sheffield's 'Great Snow Debate'.
Sheffield Council put 28,000 tonnes of grit on the city roads, at a cost of 3 million during heavy snowfall in December and January.
But the outlay only covered 60 per cent of the road network and hilly areas such as Crookes, Wybourn and the Manor were isolated as the gritters kept to the main roads.
Officials have calculated it would cost 8m to keep every side street gritted in a repeat snowfall - which would require a council tax rise of at least three per cent.
Residents have the chance to decide whether keeping every street ice-free would be worth the extra outlay, or whether cheaper measures should be used.
Ideas being suggested in the Town Hall include using an army of volunteer snow wardens to keep their local patch free of snow.
Other ideas include distributing one-tonne grit sacks throughout the city for residents to dip into and allowing teachers to relocate to their nearest school in the event of a freeze.
Council leader Paul Scriven said: "We're starting a debate with local people about practical ways to help you help yourselves if we experience the same level and intensity of snowfall again."
• Visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/greatsnowdebate to have your say.
Got a view? Add your comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
