A PRIMARY school headteacher has questioned why a road used by key workers is not ploughed and gritted more regularly in icy conditions.

Andrea Hayes, headteacher of Gillamoor C of E Primary School, was driving home on February 12 (Friday) when her car skidded and left the road on Starfits Lane in Fadmoor.

Andrea said she did not believe the road, which runs through North York Moors National Park, had been properly treated by the council’s highway maintenance team during the adverse weather.

“Starfitts Lane in Fadmoor and the lack of gritting or ploughing is a disgrace,” she said.

"NYCC say it is not a priority road as you can get to Gillamoor School from Kirkbymoorside, but that road was not treated either and was a death trap, so some parents refused to bring their children in.

" I have heard from other schools across the county too about the lack of road treatment.

“I was only travelling at 20mph after a very stressful half-term. My car has been written off so a very expensive day altogether."

Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures gripped parts of the county over the last few weeks, causing disruption across North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) is responsible for Starfits Lane, but confirmed that as an unmarked road, it is not considered a priority route for gritting unless spare resources are available.

A spokesperson from North Yorkshire County Council said: “We deliver a robust winter service with the safety of the travelling public our top priority.

“In accordance with our Winter Maintenance Policy, we grit our roads in priority order as resources allow, based on traffic flows and the best use of our gritters.

“Starfitts Lane is not one of our priority roads. Gillamoor village and the primary school is on a Priority 2 route up from Kirkbymoorside.

“Drivers are encouraged to use the gritting route information as part of their journey planning, and please take extreme care when driving in challenging conditions, especially heavy snow.”