Dear Sir
 
I wholeheartedly endorse Cllr Western and Cllr Bisknell's call for a proper review into Derbyshire County Council's handling of the snow and ice over recent weeks. Whilst people do need to be patient and tolerant on these occasions, the continued lack of any apparent intent to clear minor and urban roads has stretched that patience to breaking point. I would like to know:

• why major roads like the Cat and Fiddle, the Snake and even the Woodhead Pass were closed for so long
• why the County decided just before Christmas to end the agency agreement by which High Peak Borough Council cleared minor roads on their behalf 
• why some roads that were cleared last year not cleared this year. Have the priority criteria been changed?

In response to Cllr Bingham, it is not true to say that the Government behaved irresponsibly in not responding until December to a report on salting and gritting policy published in June. That report - which recommended all local authorities keep 6 days supply of salt ready at all times, and the Highways Agency 13 days - was a report both to Government and to local authorities. Most local authorities had already followed the recommendations by the time the Government response was published; they did not need to wait for Government endorsement.
 
Whilst it is legitimate to ask in hindsight whether 6 days was the right advice, the report did not anticipate such prolonged periods of snow and subzero temperatures. Did Derbyshire follow the six day guidelines?

Yours sincerely
 
Tom Levitt MP
Labour member for High Peak