Welsh Conservatives today revealed that imported salt supplies for Welsh local authorities may not arrive until the end of the year.
The admission came in a written answer, which also revealed that the Assembly Government has simply ‘sought prices’ for further salt supplies, while two ‘strategic salt barns’ will not be filled until next year.
Speaking as more extreme weather is forecast to move across Wales on Thursday Jonathan Morgan AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, expressed concern that the Assembly Government has failed to learn the lessons of last winter.
Jonathan Morgan said, “I am shocked that after the chaos of last winter’s salt and grit shortages, the Assembly Government has only ‘sought prices’ of more salt.
“If Labour-Plaid want to wait for local authorities to run out of salt before buying reserves, they may find that demand has soared to such an extent that those prices are meaningless.
“We have already had a very cold start to the winter and more ice and snow to come will put greater pressure on local authorities’ already stretched supplies of salt and grit.
“While certain councils have taken the sensible precaution of importing additional supplies of salt, it is concerning that these may not arrive until the end of the year.
“In the face of prolonged extreme winter weather we need to ensure that public services, 999 crews and commuters can continue to move around as normally as possible.
“We had all hoped that the Assembly Government had learnt the lessons of last winter’s salt shortages, which put lives at risk on Wales’ roads and no doubt cost the economy millions in lost work days.
“The Assembly Government needs to get its act together. We’ve known for months that winter is coming and Wales needs to prepare for the worst in order to keep our economy moving.”
