Paved areas are only treated during severe conditions of ice or snow once the priority road routes have been cleared. This is to make sure resources are used most efficiently. With many miles of footways in Flintshire salting every single one is simply not feasible – our efforts must be concentrated on areas that will benefit the most people. 

How footways are prioritised

Resources will be used to treat footways once snow has settled or during periods of prolonged freezing based on priority at places including:

• Town centre footways and footways in the vicinity of shopping areas
• Footways in the vicinity of civic buildings
• Public highway in the vicinity of hospitals
• Public highway in the vicinity of residential homes/old-age pensioners flats
• Public highway in the vicinity of day-care centres
• Public highway in the vicinity of Schools (during term times only)
• Footbridges
• Bus stops

If any reports of icy footways are received for locations not included in the above criteria, we will inspect it to see if treatment is appropriate, depending on available resources.

Where resources allow, we will clear steep sections of footways, predominately elderly residential areas, other residential areas, and industrial estates. Treatment of these footways is in line with the Council’s winter maintenance policy.

The work is often done by teams using shovels and a vehicle loaded with salt. It is carried out by all available staff, including the ground maintenance teams who can’t carry out their normal duties.

Salt bins are provided for residents and businesses to clear nearby footways. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a private clearing service to households.

Can I claim against the Council if I fall on untreated roads or footways?

People using areas affected by snow and ice have a responsibility to be careful themselves.  If the Council can demonstrate it has used all available resources and has been reasonably practicable in its actions, then it is likely any claim will fail.