Calderdale Council scraps planned cuts to road gritting
The changes were due to come into force from next week
A council will not be implementing planned cuts to the number of routes it will grit this winter.
The Calderdale Council proposals to reduce the number of places which would be gritted on a precautionary basis received a huge backlash from residents and from opposition political parties.
The changes, approved in the ruling Labour group’s budget earlier this year, were due to come into effect on December 1.
The issue was due to be debated at the full Calderdale Council meeting on Wednesday, November 27, with Liberal Democrats tabling a motion urging councillors to reconsider the decision citing safety concerns.
Conservative councillors were also set to raise the issue in questions to Cabinet members and, outside the chamber, Reform UK Calderdale were also critical.
Concerns on social media were amplified by last week’s snowfall and icy conditions.
Now the council says it has listened carefully to the large number of concerns expressed ahead of the changes and has taken action.
This means that no changes to the existing precautionary gritting routes will be made, says the authority.
The council’s existing Winter Service Policy ensures that the authority can provide a service, based upon a clear prioritisation of the highway network, which recognises the significant challenges faced by residents and businesses in travelling safely throughout Calderdale during the winter months, it says.
Senior Cabinet councillors have listened to the concerns from residents and businesses and the Budget decision, made as the council struggles to balance its books, will not now be enacted.
They recognised while alternative actions will be considered to achieve efficiencies in service delivery, these are unlikely to reduce the pressures on the winter gritting budget – but will need to be addressed when setting the 2025-26 budget early next year, they say.
Leader of the Council, Coun Jane Scullions (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said the impact of severe weather creates extreme challenges in Calderdale in keeping residents safe.
“We understand this and have listened.
“We pride ourselves on keeping people safe, whilst also balancing our budget in tough times as we must do legally.
“We will think again, consider what other ways we can achieve these savings, and put these options to all councillors to consider when we launch our proposed budget in the new year, and when we approve our final budget in February 2025,” she said.
Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, Coun Sarah Courtney (Lab, Todmorden) said the main priority has always been public safety during the winter months, and delivering the best service we can within available resources.
“It’s not possible for us to grit every street and road.
“Whilst the proposed changes agreed at Budget Council earlier this year meet our statutory duties as a highway authority, we have carefully considered the large volume of concerns we have received from local residents, and have decided not to enact the proposed changes to our Winter Service.
“We have asked officers to undertake further work on efficiencies over coming weeks, and will seek to maximise our scarce resources the best we can.
“This will not lead to any reduction in the current precautionary gritting routes.
“We recognise these actions will not address the financial pressures caused by delivering our current winter service in Calderdale, with its steep-sided hills and valleys.
“This means we will need to consider further alternative savings, at an unprecedented and difficult time for local councils, as we set the council budget next year,” she said.
The council continues to encourage use of grit bins for those residents that qualify for one.
It will be writing to all households affected over the next week to ensure they are fully informed of this revised position.