Emergency grit supplies rationed

Councils in the West Midlands and Staffordshire - running low on grit following some of the most severe winter weather in a century - are being denied emergency supplies, it emerged today.

Wolverhampton City Council has just 600 tons of its winter stockpile of 3,500 tons left. The authority asked for a further 500 tons but will only receive between 250 and 280 tons.

Staffordshire County Council also approached the Department for Transport and requested 10,000 extra tons but was granted half that. It has just 8,000 of 30,000 tons left.

Sandwell Council has requested another 3,000 tons while Dudley Council, which has less than a third of its supplies left, is yet to apply for more.

Walsall Council says it has enough grit, with 2,000 of its original 4,000 tons left.

Councils today said they were at the mercy of the Government which is responsible for deciding where stocks were most depleted.

Wolverhampton City Council's head of street scene services Steve Woodward said: "We will be receiving between 250 and 280 tons next week from the Salt Union in Cheshire following our application to the Department for Transport for 500 tons.

"Authorities can request additional rock salt, however, a decision on rock salt deliveries will be determined by the Department for Transport, having received details of council salt stock levels across the country."

Dudley Council spokesman Chris Howes said the authority had used around 4,500 tons of its total stockpile of 6,400 tons.

Councillor Derek Rowley from Sandwell Council said: "We have used more than 3,000 tons so far and have less than 3,000 tons left. We have placed an order for another 3,000 tons."

Worcestershire County Council had 13,000 tons of grit at the start of the season. This was down to 5,000 tons last week but it has taken delivery of another 1,000 tons in the past few days.