Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA has urged Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to take immediate action following severe disruption caused by last week’s snow and ice.

Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA said:

“At my request, the Infrastructure Committee has agreed to write to Minister Liz Kimmins regarding the severe disruption caused by last week’s snow and ice across Northern Ireland. It is essential that core winter services are delivered effectively and that robust plans are in place when adverse weather hits.

“I want to pay tribute to the gritters and staff who worked in extremely challenging conditions to keep roads open. However, there were ample warnings issued in good time that should have allowed the Minister to act decisively. Instead, what we witnessed was a poorly thought out strategy. Roads were not adequately or routinely gritted, and many alternative routes were simply missed, leaving motorists in peril.

“The delays in refilling grit boxes and the absence of coordinated emergency planning with local councils left many residents without adequate grit supplies on critical days. There must be better planning and coordination between the Department for Infrastructure and local councils. The current setup is disconnected, and emergency planning is clearly lacking in places. We need to face the reality that worsening winters may become the norm, and Minister Kimmins must step up and learn from this experience to ensure Northern Ireland is better prepared in the future.”