It was good to see the road gritters react quickly after the sudden and heavy snow fall of Sunday 11th but what of the pavements?

Even in the centre of Stroud, main pedestrian thoroughfares are, a week later, still covered in hardened ice.

There may be a shortage of grit and of council employees to spread it but I’m sure that there are ways, in the third decade of the 21st century, to make at least some pavements safe to walk on. Some of us have attempted to do this outside of our homes or shops but many feel neglected by those who are supposed to be helping to look after Stroud’s most vulnerable citizens.

The elderly, parents with small children and those with disabilities, who don’t or can’t drive, have been faced with surfaces like skating rinks and forced to walk on roads, when they can; and they are the ones who could venture out rather than be trapped inside for a week.

Not even the space around the bus stops in Merrywalks was cleared or gritted.

I don’t blame the County Council staff for this omission (they can only do what they can) but what of our elected representatives?

The ruling group have long favoured motorists over pedestrians and other forms of transport; and it mainly benefits those driving through towns like Stroud.

After all, local drivers have to walk from vehicle to shop and, if they can’t shop for fear of a fall, at a time when hospitals are in crisis, they are not going to and local businesses will be adversely affected.

So, County Councillors for Stroud and beyond, step out of your cars for at least a few minutes and think of those struggling with this hazard in already difficult times.

Pete Gould

Stroud