I was interested to read the article published in the Oxford Mail on January 8, about how Oxfordshire County Council only had enough grit to cover the excessive amount of snow on major roads.

This was fully understandable.

However, the decision to only grit major roads, as there was a shortage of salt supply, had a major impact on local communities – affecting how people got to work and continued with their day to day activities, such as shopping for essential supplies.

The county council should be encouraging local communities to come together and offer assistance to people – in particular the elderly – during extreme weather conditions to prevent the risks associated with the snow and ice.

As we think forward to next winter, I would encourage local councils to consider this point of view in their forward planning, to ensure that local communities are well prepared and support each other during the next fall of snow.

Charlotte Connolly, Thame