RESIDENTS have been backed in their fight to reinstate grit bins to their streets in Rossendale by MP Janet Anderson.

Residents in Whitewell Bottom were left stunned last week after being told they were no longer allowed any grit this winter.

Unadopted roads in Hightown and Philipstown have now been snubbed by Lancashire County Council who have supplied residents with road salt up until now.

MP Janet Anderson tabled an early day motion in Parliament on Thursday to challenge the decision.

She said: “Though the county council has no obligation to grit unadopted roads they have been doing it for years so to decide to stop now is petty and potentially putting people’s lives at risk.

“It cannot be saving that much money and it will create chaos in Rossendale as the winter comes in.

"Both areas are a real test to travel on even in the height of summer, so as the colder weather approaches it is important that the roads are safe.

“I have asked the Minster for Local Government to contact the council to urge them to reconsider.”

Matt Butler, 30, uses the roads during his commute to Manchester every morning.

He said: “Because the roads are unadopted we were happy to grit them ourselves and did that at 6.30 every morning.

“However, last week a county council vehicle pulled up as we were gritting and started taking all the grit away.

“We asked them what they were doing and they told us that because the roads are unadopted the authority has no obligation to stock the grit bins.

“We explained that we had no way of getting to work if the roads were not gritted in the winter, but they told us it was not their responsibility.”

Daniel Herbert, assistant area manager at the county council, said: “Following a review of all 316 grit bins in Rossendale, the bins at Hightown and Philipstown were removed because they were on unadopted, private roads.

“We apologise for not giving advanced warning to local residents before removing the bins.”