It says it must channel resources into keeping the main roads ice-free — and has called on residents to grit their own paths and roads using some of the city’s 500 grit bins.

“Like carriageways, footways are categorised as high and low priority,” a council spokesman said. “The high-priority routes cover main thoroughfares throughout the city and in snowy and icy conditions these are treated before moving to low-priority footways. It is not feasible to treat footways for short durations of frost.”

Instead, he said, residents should seek out their nearest grit bin and look after their own neighbourhoods.

“More than 500 grit bins are provided at locations such as steep gradients, steps and adjacent to sheltered housing,” he said.

“Everyone can do their bit to help. Clearing footways around your own home and helping elderly or infirm neighbours will ensure that footways will be safer and easier to use.

“The bins will be replenished with grit and salt for use on a self-help basis. Empty grit bins should be reported to the council.”

But Depute Lord Provost Ian Borthwick took a different view today, saying the situation on the streets was the worst he had seen for years.

He called on the council to review its policy.

Cllr Borthwick said he was particularly concerned about the plight of older people unable to leave their homes because of the perilous nature of some footways.

“I’ve had numerous calls, not just from people in my area, regarding the hazardous conditions pedestrians are experiencing,” said the councillor, who worked for Age Concern for three decades before his retirement.

“I’ve raised the matter with the department. I recognise staff are working under pressure and within budget constraints but the situation requires review. This is the worst situation I’ve seen for a long, long time. Older people who have to go out are experiencing great difficulties. Both the council and Tayside Contracts have been informed of my view.”

The council’s self-reliance plea also didn’t cut any ice with one resident of Dundee’s Upper Constitution Street, who said that his grit box had been taken away last winter and not replaced.

John McGuinness warned that parking problems nearby made it difficult for any large vehicles to climb one of the city’s steepest streets.

That meant gritters found it difficult to access an area with many elderly householders, he said.

“I understand and expect the council to do the bus routes and more commonly used roads,” he said. “But I don’t think that should be done at the expense of everybody else. We continually get excuses — but we want this sorted before there is a serious problem or somebody collapses.”