Dudley MP, Sonia Kumar has demanded ‘urgent action’ from Dudley Council over what she calls a ‘dangerous lack of gritting’.
Ms Kumar has written to the Leader of Dudley Council, Councillor Patrick Harley, following a surge of complaints from residents about dangerously icy and un-gritted roads across the borough during recent freezing weather.
Residents have contacted the MP’s office reporting hazardous conditions on streets with drivers and pedestrians descriinv roads and pavements as treacherous, with reports of accidents and injuries that could have been avoided with proper winter maintenance.
She said: “Residents rightly expect their council to be prepared for freezing weather. The situation we have seen across Dudley is unacceptable and has put people at real risk.
“I want to be absolutely clear that the decision to remove grit bins was taken by the Conservative-led council, not by me, and I am now pressing them to act quickly to put safety first.”
The issue comes amid growing concern over the removal of grit bins from neighbourhood streets. In response, the Dudley Labour Group has confirmed that it has formally submitted a motion to the council calling for the reinstatement of grit bins across the borough, although a decision on whether the motion will be accepted is not expected for one to two days.
A spokesperson for the Dudley Labour Group said: “The removal of grit bins from streets across Dudley was both shortsighted and reckless.
“Communities have stepped up for decades to help keep roads passable so children can get to school and carers can reach older residents who may not live on a main gritting route.
“Labour are committed to keeping communities safe and we’ll continue to campaign for grit bins to be reinstated as soon as possible.”
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