Salt boxes installed on thehilly streets of the Bogside

The stocking of bins on the series of precipitous terraces that slope down from the Elmwood Terrace stretch of the Lone Moor to Elmwood Road has been welcomed as a good example of winter preparedness.

Sinn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue said: “I would like to commend Transport NI for replenishing these grit boxes well in advance of the winter freeze.

“They have been replenished in a number of side streets just off the Lone Moor Road where residents always find it difficult to manage getting in and out of their homes in heavy frost or snow because the streets are very steep. The same goes for delivery lorries or the emergency services.”

Over the past week Derry experienced the coolest conditions of the winter sofar as Arctic air brought frost, freezing fog and some sleet and light snow on higher ground. Transport NI have thus moved to resource the hilly streets of the Bogside against the potential arrival of even colder conditions in the weeks ahead.

Colr. Logue urged people to respect a vital public amenity.

“I would appeal to all communities to ensure that their local salt /grit boxes are not vandalised. There have been occasions in recent years with groups going home late at night or someone thinking it’s funny to kick the contents of the grit box out or move it down a street. But clearly it isn’t.”