Vital businesses affected by poor road conditions in snow and ice

Workers at a Claudy business, which supplies vital goods to hospitals and schools, have said they have been putting their safety at risk during this week's cold snap as their road has been left off the salting network.

Staff at Season Harvest on the Baranailt Road have described the wintry conditions as 'a nightmare' as it's causing difficulties getting to and from the business.

Last night (Wednesday), they went public with their concerns on social media after their plea to be included in DFI's gritting schedule had not been considered or acted upon by the department.

A number of other businesses are located on the same road, which is just off the main A6 dual carriageway.
Ryan McShane, a spokesperson for Season Harvest, spoke to the County Derry Post regarding his concerns.
He said: “In terms of getting goods into the business that is proving difficult. We ordered some products from Europe. They make it that far and then the final stretch of our road is difficult as it isn’t gritted anymore. It was previously when it was part of the main road but now that the road has been upgraded this road has basically been forgotten about and neglected. Due to this delivery drivers aren’t turning up our road. This means our staff are having to put themselves at risk to go down and meet them with a forklift at the main road. Then the forklift can’t get back up the road. So we are having to ask the staff to go down to meet the lorry and hand lift the goods off the vehicle.

“When it comes to our own goods, leaving the property is also proving difficult. We have 15 to 18 vehicles leaving the property and again getting them loaded is a nightmare. It is a very dangerous stretch of road.”

Ryan continued saying: “We have made contact with the Department of Infrastructure to no avail. All we need is gravel piles and a good salt box. We previously had these and nothing has ever been replaced. They haven't even got back to us to say that it has been considered. There has been no correspondence and we first made contact with them in October. There are a number of businesses here affected, it's not just us. These businesses supply vital products and services to key customers such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes and other restaurants/food halls providing food services for the elderly and vulnerable.

“This is also a major health and safety risk for our staff. We have a car park here that they can’t even get the length of so they are having to park on curbs. It is a real danger.”

East Derry MLA Cara Hunter took to Facebook to express her concern about the situation on the Baranailt Road saying: “This is awful. I’ve contacted the council and DFI this morning for urgent action.”

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “While Council is not responsible for the distribution or provision of grit, grit boxes or the gritting of roads, streets or the pavement network, the Council has carried out gritting of several pavements and pathways at Council owned premises and venues, including cemeteries and recycling centres. Derry City and Strabane District Council has also provided the DFI with some assistance during the current cold spell to gritting in some highly used public areas across the Council, when and where we have resources available to do so.”

DFI have been contacted for comment.