Sheffielders dealing with 'The Big Freeze' praised by Lib Dem Council Leader

9.00.00am GMT Thu 7th Jan 2010

Sheffield Station in the snow

Lib Dem Council leader Paul Scriven praised Sheffielders folk for dealing with the recent freezing conditions. Paul said "As always Sheffielders have rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. It never fails to impress me how local people are resilient and will rise above challenges such as this big freeze. I know it's been harder than normal to get around Sheffield but rest assured we will continue to do all we can to try to make things easier in the days ahead.

"It will not be easy and we're not underestimating the challenge that still lies ahead but we will do our best to continue to tackle the snow and ice as temperatures dip."

Sheffield City council has responded to 6,000 requests for help with gritting since the cold snap struck a month ago. It has hired nine extra gritters on top of the usual 19, and every available member of staff in the Street Force department has been out salting pavements in the city centre and district shopping areas. Workers have been taken off other duties to help with the efforts.

The council's £1.4 million annual gritting budget, exceeded this year for a second winter in a row, was at a level set several years ago. So far in 2009/10, the amount spent by the council on gritting has exceeded £2 million.

Paul added "I have told the department to keep going despite the cost. We need to do whatever it takes to keep the city moving."