LIMERICK City and County Council has been urged to make positive steps for public health and safety during cold snaps, especially around areas in which ill, elderly, and infirm people are treated, such as hospitals and care centres.
One councillor, who works at University Hospital Limerick, called on the local authority to place salt on footpaths surrounding all hospitals across the city with high pedestrian foot traffic during cold spells, in order to help avoid slips, falls, and unnecessary breaks and injuries.
At January’s meeting of members of the Metropolitan District, Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan called for Limerick City and County COuncil to place salt on footpaths in the vicinity of University Hospital Limerick, St Camillus’ Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, and all primary care centres located in the city.
Cllr O’Donovan was informed at the monthly meeting that when roads are gritted by Council teams, as needed and during cold snaps and inclement whether spells, the salt width spray is extended to include the cycle lanes and footpaths.
The local authority’s Director of Transportation, Patricia Liddy, told Cllr O’Donovan that its current practice “works well along areas where there is no existing parking along the route”.
Ms Liddy told the Soc Dems councillor that “special attention is given to the Three Bridges Walk, areas near the Market area on Friday nights, and areas near hospitals and schools”.
“Additional attention will be given to these areas during extreme weather events,” Ms Liddy told Cllr Donovan.