Through your columns, I would like to clarify the situation relating to the winter service operational plan.

The changes to the plan only apply to the precautionary gritting of routes that have scheduled public bus routes on them and this occurs when there is the possibility of frost.

To put this into context we grit 2,275km (a little over 50 per cent) of county roads and these changes will have the effect of adding some routes but also removing some thus creating a net reduction of 49km (two per cent) of this treatment of roads across the whole of Hertfordshire.

I need to make it clear that these changes have no effect on the roads that we cover in the event of prolonged wintery conditions so to suggest that areas will grind to a halt if snow falls because of these changes is wide of the mark.

Part of the winter plan included a recommendation to review the current scheme, which excludes schools for applying for free salt if they are situated more than 100m away from a gritting route.

At the Highways Cabinet Panel on September 1, there was a recommendation that I, as the chairman of the panel would, with officers, review – subject to budget considerations – a relaxation of the 100m distance in which schools can obtain salt to grit the highways, including pathways.

Whilst all the Conservative councillors voted in favour of this, it is regrettable to note that both Labour and the Liberal Democrats either abstained or voted against this recommendation.

I must also add that all members, when advised of the changes, were invited to meet with officers if they believed that any of the streets which have been removed still meet the criteria for treatment so that these can be reviewed.

So once again the Liberal Democrats have chosen to act as scaremongers without giving all the facts.

Cllr Terry Douris, cabinet member for Highways, Hertfordshire County Council