Kirklees Conservative Leader Cllr Jim Dodds has expressed his concerns over the Council’s gritting plans for the coming winter. He acknowledged the criticism the Council had received for gritting performance earlier this year, and expressed concern that the Council had only budgeted for five days of gritting this year. He also said that changes in working practices which meant there had been no volunteers from highways workers who normally undertake the work was a real worry that could lead to major problems in Kirklees, and he urged the Council’s Leadership to find a solution with the unions.

Cllr Dodds said:

"Times are hard in Local Government and budgets have to be cut, but we should not be cutting vital front line services. Kirklees is one of the largest and most exposed Councils in England, and gritting services are vital in the area during the winter months. A severe winter could cripple us. We must be prepared to budget for more than five days of gritting, but we must also ensure we have the staff to undertake the work as well.

"It is not a surprise that there have been no volunteers to undertake this work. Any normal person would feel aggrieved at receiving reduced pay for doing a vital job in the early hours of the morning, and I would urge the Council Leadership to look for an acceptable compromise. Failure to provide an adequate gritting service will cause severe disruption in Kirklees, but it will also increase the possibility of serious accidents on our roads in winter months.

"Against Conservative wishes the Labour led Council have already decimated Highways capital budget, undoing much of the good work commenced when the Council was under Conservative control. I would urge them not to attack the revenue budget in this vital service as well."