Kirklees residents told council will not refill grit bins this winter in bid to save cash

Kirklees Council says it grits 53 per cent of Kirklees’ road network, covering priority routes and steep hills, in response to severe weather warnings. It also maintains over 1,450 grit bins in Kirklees, located at sites that are not on a priority gritting route.

The borough’s grit bins were filled for the year at the start of the winter season. However, some are reportedly already standing empty following the harsh weather conditions Kirklees has experienced in recent weeks.

Almondbury ward Lib Dem councillors, Coun Paola Davies and Coun Alison Munro, argue that the council’s plan is insufficient for keeping roads and pavements safe for residents. They also feel that the local authority should refill the bins instead of potentially placing the financial burden on residents, some of whom are already struggling to make ends meet.

Coun Davies said: “We have been experiencing freezing cold temperatures in the last week across Kirklees and we are only at the start of the Winter season.

“While all grit bins have been filled recently by the Council across Kirklees for 2023/2024, we understand that grit bins will not be refilled unless there are very exceptional weather conditions, due to the additional funding required to cover the cost. The problem though is that some grit bins are already empty following last week’s cold spell!”

Coun Munro said: “Safety on our local roads and pavements is paramount. I have recently been contacted by a resident in Almondbury ward, on behalf of residents in his street, who access their homes via some public steep stone steps which are treacherous in freezing conditions.

“Potentially placing the burden on residents to personally pay for extra grit to keep public walkways and local highways safe in freezing weather when we are in the middle of an economic crisis with people still having to decide whether to heat or eat is unacceptable. I would like to know how the Cabinet define ‘very exceptional weather conditions’. It certainly felt arctic last week and today is not much better!

“Our immediate area of Almondbury is quite hilly and all the grit bins in our ward are in strategic locations due to steep roads, so I worry that the elderly, young families, people who work and people who are sick may be left stranded in their own homes once the grit runs out when the next freeze comes.”

Coun Davies added: “While the Council is supporting community Snow Wardens, who are local resident trained volunteers, given basic equipment, and a small supply of grit to treat the highways in their area, I understand the scheme is full. I am still waiting to hear how many snow wardens we have in the Almondbury ward.

“In the meantime, I feel it is incumbent upon the Council to do more to help where we experience freezing temperatures, rather than simply holding up their hands and saying there is no more grit!”

Coun Munro added: “Perhaps as a contingency plan, the council could put a call out to anyone who could help to clear some residential pavements and roads, making it easier for everyone to get about. I have heard about such a model which works well in a certain part of the country.”

Coun Moses Crook, Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said: “As part of the requirement to make budget savings, the council has decided that the 1450 grit bins on the district’s roads will only be filled once each year at the start of the winter season, saving at least £160,000 per year. All grit bins have now been filled for 2023/24.

“These bins will not now be refilled unless there are very exceptional weather conditions to justify this decision, and additional funding provided to cover the cost. This decision would be based on a prolonged period over several days of heavy snow.

“The council is however supporting community Snow Wardens, who are locally based volunteers that receive training, basic equipment, and a small supply of grit to treat the highways in their area. If you are interested in becoming a Snow Warden for next year, please contact [email protected] and we will get in touch when the programme reopens next year.”