MP ON MISSION TO GET MORE SALT FOR POWYS

3.02.06pm GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

Following warnings that Powys County Council was running dangerously low of gritting salt, Brecon & Radnorshire's MP, Roger Williams, this morning (Tue.) contacted the Department for Transport (DfT) to try to secure more salt deliveries to Powys, the largest and most rural county in England and Wales.

With the County Council now reporting that significant extra deliveries of salt are now due to be delivered to Powys over the next few days, Mr. Williams commented:

" Powys covers 25% of the land mass of Wales and has thousands of miles of roads linking its dispersed communities. It also contains vital north-south and east-west highways that are essential economic arteries, which must be kept open if at all possible. The A470 over the Brecon Beacons, linking Mid Wales with South Wales, was closed for a period today, due to severely drifting snow, and I understand the A44 near Llangurig in the north of Powys was also closed, for the same reason."

" These incidents indicate the seriousness of the situation and I impressed on the DfT that the nature of the County and the impending heavy snow forecast for South and Mid Wales simply added urgency to the situation."

Adding his comments, Deputy Leader of Powys County Council and Leader of the Welsh Lib. Dem. Group on the Council, Cllr. Les Davies said:

" The Council has done all it can to keep our main roads clear of snow and ice over the past few weeks of severe weather. The demands on our gritting teams have been immense and they have performed really well in very difficult circumstances. I am delighted that fresh supplies of salt are now due to come in to the county over the next few days and I am most grateful for the efforts of our AMs and MPs in helping to secure these supplies."

Brecon & Radnorshire AM Kirsty Williams added: "I am pleased that our close work with the council, the DfT and the Welsh Government has had a positive result and that Powys will be able to maintain clear highways throughout this cold spell."