A U-turn has been made on icy pavements.
Colchester Council had a general policy of not gritting or salting pavements and footways.
But the council is now doing more to prevent falls after joining forces with public-spirited members of the community.
The council now supplies salt to places where members of the public have willingly come forward and offered to salt pavements.
Colchester Council cannot include pavements on its salting and gritting schedule because of resources.
If the council, which acts on behalf of Essex County Council, salted every main carriageway in the area, it would run three times over its budget.
Norman Hicks, Colchester Council's highway network manager, said: "We don't salt footways simply because of limited resources. However, if somebody contacts us as a result of slipping and they ask for help, we will never refuse it."
He said a new development was residents who volunteered to help grit pavements in the area. Areas with volunteers are now supplied with salt.
Mr Hicks added: "Our resource problem is recognised and we have provided some salt boxes where people have offered to salt the pavements themselves. We are extremely grateful to them for that."
Published Thursday, January 30, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article