Grit bin stolen as supplies dwindle

Thieves have resorted to stealing entire grit bins and their contents as supplies continue to dwindle across the Black Country.

Yellow bins filled with grit for use on roads have disappeared from some streets in Walsall, the council revealed today.

Councillor Tom Ansell, Walsall Council cabinet member for transport, said: "It simply beggars belief. We've had problems with grit being taken from roadside bins over the past few days. We've issued warnings that this can put lives in danger.

"It seems as though some idiots are not heeding this warning and we've had instances of people actually now stealing entire grit bins. These grit pirates are putting lives in danger.

"We have had grit bins and their contents taken from Roberts Road at the junction of Halford Crescent in Coalpool and Aldridge Road in Streetly. We are now working to replace these bins.

"We have a zero tolerance of theft and we are asking people to be vigilant and pass on any information of grit thefts to West Midlands Police."

The roadside yellow bins are located at 170 sites across Walsall usually at critical points close to hills and sharp bends.

People have also been stealing grit from sites including Wallows Lane, Walsall, Phoenix Rise, Darlaston and Queslett Road, Great Barr.

But despite the thefts Councillor Ansell said it was not thought grit was going to run out in Walsall.

"As an estimate we now have around 1,800 tonnes at the Cable Drive depot," he said. We treat more than 250 miles of key roads every time we go out spreading 50 tonnes a time. That's more than half the road network. Going out once a day means that's around 36 days worth that we're sitting on."

Councillor Paddy Bradley, Wolverhampton's regeneration and transport chief, said: "We are doing well on minor roads as well as major ones and have gritted 189 side streets with plenty more being done today.

"We have more supplies coming in today and we will be fully stocked to cope for many days."