Bolton Council has halted cuts to winter gritting services on roads across the borough after an outcry from residents. Faced with a savings target of £37.2m, the council had proposed changes to gritting routes from the winter of 2023/24.
The proposed changes would have introduced a risk-based approach to gritting, which was developed and agreed during two cross-party meetings. Gritting would have prioritised major routes, the busiest roads and roads providing access to critical infrastructure with other roads previously gritted being left untouched.
However, the plans received a public backlash with many concerned that the changes would leave previously gritted routes unsafe in freezing and snowy weather. The council said after listening to feedback from residents, the changes will not now go ahead, and existing gritting routes will be retained.
Extra funding was possible due to a reduction in forecast council expenditure on insurance premiums.
Bolton Council leader Martyn Cox, said: “Winter gritting is a vital service for all road users, and we are therefore pleased to confirm that the existing level of service will now be retained.
“The original proposals, developed with the input from cross-party members, were put forward in the context of significant savings targets. However, after reviewing council finances we have identified funding to retain the existing gritting routes and I’m sure all residents will welcome this news.”
Horwich councillor Marie Brady, said it was ‘good to see’ the council hearing the concerns from residents and that they had acted on them.
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