Dudley councillors apologise after cold snap for cutting grit bins
Leading Dudley councillors have apologised for voting to remove grit bins during cuts which they were told ‘put safety at risk’.
On Thursday (January 29), an extraordinary meeting of the full council debated a number of motions which called for a change of policy on winter maintenance.
Labour proposed a reversal of removal of grit bins and their immediate reinstatement where there is a clear community need but, after a bad-tempered debate, a motion from the ruling Conservative group was accepted provided for a review of bin usage and winter maintenance.
Councillor Simon Phipps, Dudley cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, told councillors: “Throughout this entire debate we have had so much grandstanding and hot air but in reality what I have done is take accountability, tell you what’s been done and tell you what is going to be done.
“If you want an apology, no problem, I was one of the members that voted for that budget – I’m sorry; every other member that was part of the scrutiny process and voted for that budget should apologise.”
The bins were removed following a review of winter maintenance ordered in the 2025/26 council budget which included millions of pounds in savings.
Problems with residents not having access to grit bins surfaced during recent cold weather when Storm Goretti brought ice and snow to the region, prompting a wave of complaints.
Councillor Phipps pointed out that during the cold snap council workers spread 500 tonnes of grit and throughout the winter have so far treated roads with 3,330 tonnes of grit.
Labour’s deputy leader, Councillor Shaukat Ali, launched an attack on the removal of bins.
He said: “We have seen the consequences of this short-sighted decision that put public safety at risk.
“During the recent weather, residents across the borough faced freezing streets, untreated pavements and dangerous roads.
“In many areas people were effectively locked down in their own neighbourhoods.”
The budget including the first winter review was voted through by the Conservatives with support from the Liberal Democrat group and they also seemed ready to eat some humble pie.
Lib Dem councillor Andrew Tromans said: “We are sorry to the residents and we are going to do better, we are going to formulate a plan, let’s think about positive solutions.
“One of those is establishing a network of snow wardens, let’s make sure those grit bins are filled and reinstated where there is a community need.”
Labour’s leader, Councillor Adam Aston, was worried about the size of the bill for replacing some of the 500 bins that were removed.
As he showed the meeting photographs of bins piled high at a council depot, Councillor Aston said: “Large numbers of bins which have been removed have been damaged beyond repair either by removing them or dumping them.
“I am very concerned that replacement of grit bins across the borough is actually going to cost us a significant amount compared to what the original saving was.”
He also hit out at the Conservative plan in the motion which was approved by councillors.
Councillor Aston said: “The amended motion is filled with words like 'review' and 'assess', that doesn’t sound like action the people represent have asked us to do.”
