Views sought on gritting strategy

Residents in north Derbyshire claimed that many of their roads, which are the responsibility of Matlock-based Derbyshire County Council, were not cleared.

The council said at the time it had done the best it could, but has now unveiled a new strategy, which would see its gritting route split under primary and secondary headings.

Coun Simon Spencer, the council’s highways and transport spokesman and deputy leader, said: “During really bad and prolonged winter weather, it’s extremely difficult to provide an effective gritting service under the current system of covering all gritting routes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“It’s also a very costly system and at a time when funds are becoming increasingly tight we needed to look at ways to grit Derbyshire’s roads more efficiently and effectively and we want to know what people think.”

Maps showing how the gritting routes might look are available at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/gritting