A SCHOOL has won the first round of its battle to have regular gritting carried out during snow or icy weather in High Beech.

Driving conditions on roads around High Beech Primary School deteriorate rapidly in sub-zero temperatures but despite attempts by the school to persuade Epping Forest Council regularly to lay down grit, the requests fell on deaf ears.

County councillor Liz Webster has been aware of the hazardous conditions for some time and asked county council officers to investigate.

At present the district council acts as an agent for the county authority to carry out gritting, but because Mott Street is not on its priority schedule, the road becomes a near no-go area in icy conditions.

But the situation could change after Mrs Webster's intervention led to the county council requesting that the district council carries out a risk assessment on Mott Street, Lippitts Hill and Wellington Hill.

If they fulfil the criteria all three roads could be included on the priority gritting schedule in time for next winter.

Mrs Webster said: "I take this matter very seriously and it's quite clear to me that the situation in High Beech is deteriorating. If there's an emergency during icy weather where police, firefighters or paramedics for instance need to get into the heart of High Beech they just couldn't.

"It beggars belief that this area is not gritted. Someone could be killed, it's a very high-risk area. I'm really pleased at the county council's request for risk assessments because people in High Beech were getting nowhere with the district council."

Epping Forest Council's civil engineering and maintenance portfolio holder Robert Glozier said: "We've been asked to carry out a risk assessment on three roads in High Beech, including Mott Street. This will determine whether these roads qualify for inclusion on the gritting route and will be completed over the next couple of weeks. We're also arranging for a salt bin to be placed outside the school entrance."

Headteacher Glenister Thom said everyone would be "thrilled" if Mott Street were regularly gritted.

"It's a step in the right direction. I would be thrilled if the gritters came to Mott Street because it means the school would be able to open on days when we would normally have to close because driving conditions are too dangerous for children to get to school."