CONTROVERSIAL plans to cut the winter road gritting programme across East Lancashire have been given the green light despite protests and claims it would lead to more deaths.

In spite of fierce opposition from Liberal county councillors and a 1,500-name petition from the West Craven area of Pendle, Lancashire County Council's highways committee agreed to axe gritting on more than 90 kilometres of roads.

"Everything we're talking about now will cost lives," said Liberal county councillor David Whipp, who represents West Craven. He said he was repeating a comment made by a council highways official at an earlier meeting.

"Savings can be made but not at the expense of a vital service to the public," added Coun Whipp. "Rossendale gets £349,000 to look after 273 kilometres of roads, Pendle gets £226,000 for 350 kilometres. Over £100,000 could be saved if Rossendale was as efficient as Pendle."

The county council will cut its preventative gritting programme - grit put down before snow or ice forms - by 40 per cent to save £180,000 this year. But the savings are not being made equally across all areas. The Liberals said county figures showed that 53 kilometres of road would be axed from the gritting programme in Pendle, 23 km in Ribble Valley, 13km in Rossendale and just 3km in Burnley. In contrast Accrington would have an additional 21 kilometres gritted under the new scheme.

"Slavish adherence to a formula has led to a farcical and unfair situation," said Coun Whipp.

But his arguments cut little ice with the Labour and Conservative groups who voted through the cuts.

Labour county councillor Joe French said the Liberals would not face reality or the facts.

Committee chairman Richard Toon said the county had to square its budget and promised there would be full public consultation about the cuts. He said the county had been gritting more roads than the maximum recommended by the Audit Commission.

"Drivers will notice a difference this winter in the number of roads we are able to treat and I would urge them to drive accordingly," added Coun Toon.

The cuts will not affect motorways and main trunk roads.

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