A SUGGESTION that hundreds of local ‘champions’ could be recruited to keep Cumbria’s footpaths clear of snow and ice might be seen as an authority trying to fulfil its duties on the cheap.

However, a more charitable - and probably more reasonable - view would be that this is actually a very good idea.

If successful, it could enable Cumbria County Council (CCC) to be effective way beyond its understandably limited gritting scope.

In recent bad winters, the authority has managed to keep the main roads open, if sometimes with a struggle, but it has never been legally required to grit residential streets and footpaths. Indeed, it does not have the resources for this.

Salt bins are provided throughout the county, particularly where there are steep roads and paths, and these are kept stocked for local people to use, so the concept of self-help is not an entirely new one.

However, the idea of ‘snow champions’ takes it a stage further by providing selected groups of residents with proper clothing, equipment and rock salt so they can carry out the work on an agreed length of footway.

CCC officials would vet the volunteers to ensure suitability and also provide induction training. This would, it seems, enable them to be properly insured against claims if their snow clearance efforts cause injury to others.

If the idea is adopted by CCC’s cabinet today (Thursday), a trial involving 300 snow champions in the six Cumbria districts will take place this winter.

The cabinet is also considering extending trials with willing parish councils, which enable them to check and control their local grit usage and re-order supplies from the highways depot when needed.

That such gritting arrangements are necessary is obvious from the dozens of calls to The Westmorland Gazette’s annual Gritwatch line, which Cumbrian residents contact in winter to highlight gritting problems in their neighbourhoods.

As a footnote, if they do become a long-term reality, such schemes might actually prove to some Big Society doubters that David Cameron’s arguably esoteric vision does have potential substance.