Councillors for the West Pennine ward on the hills above Darwen have accused the borough council of putting residents’ lives and limbs at risk by removing grit bins.
As icy winter weather hit the town in Storm Goretti, the Conservative trio have taken the issue up with town hall bosses.
Councillors Julie and Neil Slater and Cllr Jean Rigby have accused Blackburn with Darwen Council of removing the bins - intended for residents to use to grit pavements or roads not on gritting routes - without consulting them.
The council said a review took place in September, and some grit bins have been relocated to ensure they are in the most appropriate locations.
Cllr Julie Slater said: "Blackburn with Darwen Council has removed grit bins from West Pennine ward to cut costs.
“All three of us are very angry and annoyed, and want our grit bins put back in place as our areas are rural and collect more snow.
“We need to keep residents safe. Residents still need to get to work and school.
“There have been cars skidding in Edgworth and at Turton Bottoms. This is dangerous and puts residents’ lives and limbs at risk.
“With the water run off from the hills, our roads get very icy. It was never discussed with us.”
The anger follows an incident on Boxing Day where a motorcyclist crashed in Belmont Road, where the road was icy, and he claimed had not been gritted.
Cllr Rigby said: “This move was thoughtless and dangerous.
“The council should have properly consulted the three ward councillors before taking it. They did not.
“West Pennine ward is very high up.
“I am confident of getting this reversed. I have been to the very top at the council.”
The removal of the ward's grit bins followed a review of the council’s Highways Winter Service Policy by its executive board in September.
Blackburn with Darwen’s head of highways, Carmel Foster-Devine, said: “Our teams have been working incredibly hard, around the clock, to grit major routes across Blackburn with Darwen.
“These routes have remained clear and accessible throughout the recent cold weather spell.
“Almost 24 miles of highway across the borough is treated on every single run, spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on grit each year.
“The relocation of some grit bins is not part of any cost-cutting measures - in fact, we are spending more this year than we have previously.
“A small number of grit bins have been relocated from areas that are already routinely gritted, ensuring we can make the best possible use of the resources available and cover busier routes.
“Reaching as many residents as we can is our priority.
“We have more than 400 grit bins across Blackburn with Darwen, all of which have been reviewed to ensure they are in the most appropriate locations.”
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