Calderdale Council to Reduce Winter Road Gritting Amid Cost-Saving Measures

Fewer roads in Calderdale will receive precautionary gritting this winter as part of the council’s cost-reduction strategy. Calderdale Council indicated a necessity to save £300,000 from its budget allocated for winter services. However, the authority affirmed its commitment to ensuring that major roads and those utilized by emergency services would still be gritted in anticipation of any forecasted frost or snow. Councillor Sarah Courtney stated that the primary focus was “targeting council resources where they’re needed most”. The council reported that the annual cost of gritting the area’s roads typically reaches £1.7 million. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, roads removed from the preventative gritting schedules have been assessed for rock salt bins, which will be installed where necessary. Residents on any affected route will receive a letter from the council detailing these changes, which are set to commence on 1 December. Courtney confirmed that the authority’s policy is “in line with national guidance” and continues to meet its legal responsibilities for highway maintenance. “The geography of our borough, with its mix of rural communities and towns means that it’s not possible for us to grit every street and road,” Courtney explained. She further elaborated, “That means that we must focus on keeping the major routes on the borough’s network clear, targeting council resources where they’re needed most, and meeting our statutory duties as a highway authority.”