A man who provides a mobile valeting service has been hit with accusations of theft after he shared a video of himself taking gritting salt from a local council bin.
If you've stepped outside and found yourself in the middle of an ice rink over the last few days, then you'll know that the use of salt has been necessary on a lot of roads in the UK recently.
Among those slipping and sliding through the last week of life has been a worker at car valeting service Talasi’s Detailing, who, given his job, regularly has to work with water outside. See his tips for tackling the ice below:
Temperatures have dropped to below zero, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice – and that's before you even get the hosepipe out.
In a clip shared on TikTok, the man behind Talasi’s Detailing addressed other mobile valets who have found customers' driveways 'turning into ice rinks while you're cleaning the car', and advised using grit for an easier day on the job.
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He showed himself filling up a large bucket with salt from a local yellow council bin, saying: "Go to your local grit salt bin and just fill up a bucket, and then hopefully no more ice rinks for drives, and no more possible insurance claims."
The council bins can be found dotted around local areas, and are typically filled with grit to help clear the roads in icy weather.
The TikToker received mixed responses after sharing his advice, and while some commended Talasi's Detailing for the tip, others accused the valet of stealing from the council.
"This annoys me. The grit bin is for that street not for everyone to use," one viewer wrote, while another commented: "Said many times and as daft as it sounds [...] you've videoed yourself committing theft."
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The TikToker admitted in the caption of the video that he was 'not sure if its [sic] legal', though some viewers responded to say the salt was there to use, and not just for 'decoration'.
While Exeter City Council, where the valet is based, does not carry information about salt bins on its site, Devon County Council states that grit bins are 'intended for use on the public highway and not on private drives and paths'.
Members of the public can also request salt bags from the council, but again they are for use 'on the public highway'.
"We do not provide salt bags for use on private property, however you may be able to purchase some at your local builders’ merchant or DIY store," the council states.
Emily Brown