Fewer Staffordshire roads to get winter grit as council seeks savings

People living in rural areas will only see gritters visit their villages and towns if conditions are seen to be 'severe'.

The move has been slammed by one councillor, who says the reduction in the service is down to the county council's mismanagement of its finances.

Councillor George Adamson, leader of Cannock Chase Council and a Labour county councillor, said he has concerns over people suffering injuries as a result of the cuts to the service.

He said: "I am concerned about this, first and foremost it is a safety issue.

"People may get injured because of this and it will all boil down to the council's mismanagement of its finances."

Under the new policy, weather conditions will be under constant review as the county council looks to take a 'more proportional response' with its gritting regime.

During colder days and nights, gritters will be focusing on the county's major routes, only going out onto the wider road network in prolonged ice and snow conditions.

Temperatures and road conditions will be monitored from nine weather stations and a team of decision makers will make the call as to when and where to send out the gritters.

However, roads in the more rural areas will no longer receive treatment if it is anticipated that ice will not stay on the ground for too long.

Staffordshire County Council's highways leader Mark Deaville said: "We never know what winter has in store, as we have even been known to have snow right up to Easter, so it is important to make sure we are well prepared so we can tackle whatever the weather has to throw at us.

"On a typical winter day we will be out largely on key A and B roads, but in prolonged ice or snow we will be pulling out all the stops to treat less major routes across the network.

"Of course, every winter is a partnership effort.

"Our crews play their part, our community Ice Busters do theirs by clearing local paths and we ask all drivers to play theirs as well."

Lichfield District Councillor Sue Woodward, who is also a county councillor, has also criticised the changes.

"On the one hand, we are told that Government is investing more in the county's highways, that budgets are under control and that the new highways set-up will deliver greater savings," she said.

"On the other hand, we hear of these drastic cuts in the gritting budget which are bound to have an effect on Staffordshire motorists this winter.

"It seems to me that the safety of our residents should be the top priority.

"We simply can't compromise on this or are they just keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for a mild winter."