Four Birchington residents have dug in to grit the entire length of Station Road.
District councillor Suzanne Brimm said she was prompted to call Kent County Council to ask for a tonne of grit to be delivered to the village due to the treacherous ice on the paths.
And at 4pm today (March 2) the tonne of grit arrived, being deposited at the car parks in Albion Road and by Brills.
The mum-of-two said: “Station Road was treacherous making it impossible for people to walk on the pavement and get to the shops. It was dangerous and I was worried someone would take a nasty fall.
“I phone KCC and said I needed the grit to make the street safe.”
Once the grit arrived Suzanne and residents John Bean and Remi Gruszka, plus another man who decided to help, dug in and spread the entire tonne along all the shops in Station Road, the pathway through Dog Acre, outside the library and The Centre and part of the car park.
The group only stopped work after two hours because it became too dark to carry on.
Suzanne said: “KCC are not prioritising the pavements but obviously the most vunerable people are the pedestrians. Now the grit has been spread it is easier for older residents in Birchington to get to the shops and stay safe.
“I’d like to thank Paul Valek from KCC who was very good and had the grit delivered an hour after I requested it.”
The action was also prompted by news that an elderly gentleman had slipped on the path earlier today in Albion Road. Ambulance staff were not able to get to him for around two hours patient transport crew stayed with him and tried to keep him warm while he waited.
