THEY’RE set to be the answer to winter’s snow and ice – ice claws.

Kirklees Council is planning to buy sets of the shoe grips to enable elderly people to get out and about.

Ungritted roads and pavements caused Huddersfield residents huge problems during the last two winters.

In one famous case last January, people on Causeway Side in Linthwaite were reduced to crawling along black ice on their hands and knees. But elderly people in one part of Huddersfield could be offered a solution if it snows again.

The council’s Valleys Committee will decide this week whether to pay for 60 sets of ice claws for pensioners in the Golcar ward. The devices, similar to climbing crampons, are fitted to shoes allowing people to walk with confidence on icy roads and pavements.

Clr Andrew Marchington supports the plan.

The Golcar Lib Dem said yesterday: “One of the issues which came up in the last two winters was the increase in slips during the icy weather.

“We’re trying to see if we can reduce the number of slips by supplying these ice claws to some of our older residents.”

Clr Marchington believes some people in Golcar ward – which includes Longwood, Cowlersley and Milnsbridge – need extra help to stay on their feet if it snows. Before the last two years, the last time we had really bad snow was in 1992,” he said.

“The demographics of the area have changed a lot since then. We have a lot more older people who aren’t used to walking about in these conditions. There are a lot more people in their 70s and 80s who are more prone to breaking bones when they go out in icy weather.”

Clr Marchington added: “This was a national problem over the last two winters. Huge numbers of people fell on the ice because we’re not used to that kind of weather.”

The Valleys Area Committee will decide on the funding at its meeting at Brockholes Village Hall at 7pm on Thursday.

Council officers have struck a deal with the company ArtiMate to buy 60 pairs of ice claws at the trade price of £6. rather than the retail price of £9.

The equipment reduces the chance of falling on the ice by 45%.

If the plan goes ahead, the ice claws will be delivered inside the following six weeks. Kirklees staff will show residents how to fit the devices and explain when to use them.

Last night a council spokesman stressed the ice claws would be just one part of anti-snow measures this winter. He said: “Any spending on ice grips would, of course, be in addition to the winter maintenance programme carried out by the council across the district.

“We have 25,000 tonnes of rock salt in stock – enough to cope with a severe winter similar to those that we have experienced for the last two years.”