'It is ice hell, a total nightmare' - Fury over lack of grit for bins as frost bites in Edinburgh

Furious residents say they are living in “ice hell” after roads and pavements in estates in south of the city have been left covered in ice.

Treacherous conditions in Liberton housing estate and Buddy the spaniel (inset) has suffered injury

Liberton locals are demanding developers supply grit services after weeks of treacherous conditions on roads and pavements.

Emma Mears, who lives in Heritage Grange, twisted her knee and her dog injured its paw after falling on ice. She is now doing physiotherapy and has had to fork out over £800 in vet bills for spanielBuddy.

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Treacherous conditions in Liberton housing estate

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Ms Mears pleaded with Barratts to “do the decent thing” and urgently provide enough grit to make the area safe. Some of worse hit areas are Heritage Grange and the Limes.

She said: “I have slipped and fell twice on icy paths. It’s very painful. Then my dog Buddy fell and injured his paw. I complained to Barratts about the state of paths and roads but they told me it wasn’t their obligation to do it.

Buddy the spaniel injured his paw after falling on ice

“It is ice hell, a total nightmare. They cleared paths for their builders but left the rest of us to take our chances on sheets of ice. I’m so disappointed. They need to do the decent thing. At a time when all we can do is go out for a walk near our home and we can’t even do that safely.”

Residents have accused the developer of “too little too late”, claiming despite additional bins put out in the last week many have not been filled.

Jamie MacDonald, a resident at Limes said: “The conditions are atrocious. People feel they can't go out. Yet Barratts have been sending out street cleaners around who were spraying water onto the ground after dark, when it was already freezing.

“It’s a disgrace. It’s now at the point where people who can are out with shovels trying to break up inches thick ice. And no grit service for the roads.

"Bins were late being emptied because crews are slowed down by the conditions here. There needs to be obligation for developers to provide grit. Given the state it’s already in this is an urgent safety issue.”

Lezley Marion Cameron, Labour councillor for Liberton Gilmerton ward, said: “I have been contacted by numerous people afraid negotiating untreated pavements and roads; frustrated by lack of grit bins, gritting of roads and pavements. I’ve heard of delivery driver falling and other vans have skidded and got stuck on untreated roads. House builders need to fulfil their obligations regarding roads and pavements and safeguard residents.”

Barratts East Scotland, said: “We have been advised by our insurers not to grit un-adopted roads as the council do not include a winter maintenance regime for developers prior to roads being adopted. However, we have agreed with the council that we will provide additional grit bins at our Edinburgh developments and these are due to be delivered this week.”

Transport and Environment convener councillor Lesley Macinnes said: "These new roads in private developments are currently unadopted. They can be added to the 1500km of adopted roads we look after across Edinburgh once the developer applies and the required checks have been carried out to make sure the roads have been correctly constructed."

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