back

Pavements prove icy slip-up for Liverpool in big freeze

GETTING around Liverpool has been the problem in the big freeze – not getting into the city.

That’s the opinion of the city’s business leaders.

“The rail services and tunnels have held up remarkably well and the buses are not doing too badly”, said Frank McKenna, chairman of lobby group Downtown Business in Liverpool.

“But the city’s pavements are like skating rinks.

“You can’t get around with ordinary shoes on.

“I appreciate the council has got a limited amount of salt which it needs for the roads.

“The frustration is even if you can you can get here you can’t walk safely around town.”

However, Mr McKenna was sympathetic to Liverpool City Council’s response to the extreme weather.

“It’s been difficult for all local authorities who were told by forecasters it would be a mild winter.

“I’ve been working in Manchester and Lancashire over the last few days, and they’re in no better shape than Liverpool.

“Business managers have had to be flexible and apply commonsense about getting staff home safely.

“With schools closed, people have had to sort out childminding at short notice.

“Modern technology means many people can work from home, but this doesn’t apply to shops, bars and restaurants where staff have to be present on the spot.

“We need to learn lessons about what the future could hold and if investment in costly snow clearing equipment is worthwhile.

“Although this is the worst possible economic time for companies, we could discuss if the Business Improvement levy could perhaps also incorporate snow clearing.”

Paul Rice, Commercial District Partnership chief executive, personally urged the council to tackle the problem of pavement ice.

“The situation wasn’t as good as it should have been, but they are making a bigger effort,” he said.

Due to the difficulty of obtaining salt and grit, he did not feel it worthwhile for private groups to try and clear the pavements.

In Liverpool One, 18 stores were closed on Wednesday due to the weather. Yesterday, all but three reopened.

The Odeon had a profitable evening, as did the restaurants, with Nando’s reporting a surprisingly high 280 covers full at 6pm.

Before the bad weather, Liverpool One said it had surpassed last year’s pre and post Christmas sales.

.