SIR – I read that the emergency service operators and A&E departments are at breaking point because of the very cold weather. There have been excessive calls due to people having injured themselves on treacherous pavements and roads.

It would have alleviated things somewhat if councils such as ours did include in its policies the gritting of pavements.

A friend phoned City Hall to ask for the pavements, locally, to be gritted but was told, curtly and brusquely, that it was not Council’s policy.

A perfect example of false economy.

Philip Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley