Anger over roads hazard

A lack of grit in Kidderminster has been criticised by furious residents who claim the problem has left roads like "skating rinks".

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People say motorists have been slipping and sliding on roads around the town. Worcestershire highways staff put grit on main roads where they are listed as priority routes.

Other roads are tackled afterwars. Roy Mantle, joint owner of Woolwise Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, said: "The road became like an ice rink yesterday. An ambulance had to collect a woman who had fallen over and broken her wrist and another woman lost control of a pram which went skidding out of her hands.

"Despite complaints no-one has been to investigate the situation.

"There is a serious slope between the Job Centre and our shop and people have just been slipping all over the place on the ice."

County councillor Gordon Yarranton, also a district councillor, said of Sladd Lane, Wolverley, near Kidderminster: "This road has a one-in-five gradient and the road was not gritted yesterday and if this bad weather continues a grit bin should be installed. Anything is better than nothing."

Wyre Forest District Councillor John Aston said: "On Monday night a car skidded off the road and just missed another parked on the driveway of a house before striking a lamp post in the Sanderling Court and Fieldfare Court area.

"If there had been grit in a bin someone might have been able to make this area safe. I am also concerned about ice forming on Skylark Way at Spennells, Kidderminster, where pensioners have to cross."

Jon Fraser, Worcestershire County Council highways manager, said: "We have a criteria we work to and when we get a request for a bin we do investigate.

"The Spennells area of Kidderminster is flat and so it would not be economic to provide a grit bin in this area although we will look closely at the areas where pensioners live."