Number of grit lorries on Dudley roads could be reduced under council cuts

Gritting services will be reviewed, with cash-strapped Dudley Council aiming to save more than £100,000 over the next three years.

Further cost-cutting measures have been revealed by the council, which needs to save £25 million by 2020, including closing public toilets which are underused or in a poor state of repair and dimming street lights on residential roads.

Staff could also be forced to take five days of additional unpaid leave each year, at a time to be decided by employers.

The measures are included in the council's budget proposals for the next financial year.

Bosses have also said they will consider increasing burial fees as well as hiking parking charges.

The authority is proposing a review of its winter service provision. Bosses said major roads would continue to be gritted but they needed to ensure the service was providing value for money.

Gritting lorries and bins which are provided to households would be 'rationalised', under the plans which would save £105,000.

Highways boss Councillor Hilary Bills said improvements in technology meant the borough no longer needed lorries covering every inch.

She said: "We employ an awful lot of technology now which knows when and where we should be gritting.

"We don't do a blanket grit anymore. Those days are gone. The lorries know where to grit and that's where the savings will come from."