Gritting anger after heavy snow and ice leave treacherous roads and pavements

Whether its slippy, treacherous roads or trouble-free clear streets, there is nothing like the state of gritting to spark a fierce debate.

Express & Star readers have certainly voiced their anger at the state of some of the Midlands' roads left blanketed by snow and ice this week.

Out of more than 6,200 people polled, 76 per cent of readers said they were unhappy with the state of gritting in their area.

Highways England and councils across the Black Country and Staffordshire say they have been working round-the-clock to keep roads clear.

Yet after snowfall on Friday, heavy blizzards on Sunday left even main routes with inches of slushy lying snow.

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And with temperatures dropping to more than -10C (14F) in parts of the Midlands overnight into Tuesday, many areas are facing problems with ice.

The Met Office said it had been a very cold start on Tuesday, with severe frost, ice and some freezing fog patches which were slow to clear.

But forecasters said it would be bright for many, but turning cloudier and windier in the west with rain and hill snow arriving later overnight into Wednesday.

But readers contacting the Express & Star said they were left with treacherous routes - as hundreds of schools were closed and services such as bin collections affected.

Reader Sarah Mills, from Blakenall, said: "The gritting of the roads around Walsall was absolutely shocking.

"I drove my children from Blakenall to Brownhills and not one main road was snow free.

"Each and every road was covered in a thick blanket of snow.

"Coming back I couldn't go my usual route as cars were getting stuck leaving the roundabout on the Pelsall exit so I had to go the longer way home through Brownhills, Walsall Wood, Shelfield, Harden and then Blakenall.

"I am not a confident driver in the snow and had dropped my kids off so was alone.

"It's dangerous and unsafe and genuinely terrifying for a woman on her own to keep getting stuck and slipping and sliding around on the road."

Tracey Harris got in touch with her concerns about roads in and around Stourbridge. "Was Stourbridge ring road gritted at all?" she claimed.

"It was awful Monday morning also High Park Avenue.

"These are main roads. My husband was out at 4.30am.

"The roads were horrendous also when he drove home at 6pm from Halesowen he said roads were all icy."

Ken Hannaford-Mason wrote to the Express & Star with his concerns about Longacres, in Hednesford, where he has lived for 37 years.

"Despite requests for a grit bin at the end of the road none has been provided," he said.

"Over the 37 years the road has only been gritted two times. This was because the refuse lorry has got stuck.

"So we in Longacres are not happy with the gritting

"When snow falls no one can get out to go to work."

Reader Aimee Dews said: "I understand that none of the side roads would be covered however what is Dudley Council's excuse(s) for the main roads especially when they were saying on the news that they were ready and waiting working 24-hour days to grit the roads and make them as safe as possible."

Kerry Hackett said: "I'm disgusted with gritting down Grenville Road. Cars stuck can't move."

"Are you going to get me to work Dudley Council? £110 a month council tax - where's the gritters. I was stuck today had to be towed by a 4x4."

Mark Heathcock, from Dudley, said: "I live on the Russells Hall estate and the gritters have been non-existent .

"I understand that the main roads are priority but the side roads where I live - Grenville Road is dangerous, it hasn’t even been touched."

Others who battled on to use public transport voiced their concerns over routes into Midland Metro and railway stations.

The car park at Rowley Regis Railway Station remain covered in snow and ice on Tuesday.

And the steps outside Dudley Street Midland Metro stop, in Guns Village, West Bromwich, were still covered in icy snow.

But Rachel Shepherd wanted to highlight the efforts of the gritters for getting out to help.

"I’m so glad my husband doesn’t drive the gritters anymore," she wrote on Facebook.

"Everyone moans about the gritters but they forget how much of a dangerous job it is.

"I was worried every time my husband went out to work.

"They need more appreciation for what they do.

"They have to get to work first before they get in their gritters and they manage it."

Fellow reader Toni Carr agreed, adding: "Sandwell Council have done a stellar job gritting around Sandwell.

"Hats off to all the team who have worked long hours to get the roads in a good enough state for people to get to work."

Judy Partridge added: "Aintree Way, in Dudley, was cleared by a snow plough and gritted - no problem to get in and out."

Helen Sanger said: "Walsall Council have done a brilliant job with the difficult conditions and financial restraints.

"I managed to travel safely on arterial routes. A big thank you guys out there gritting at ridiculous times of the night and morning to keep us mobile."

Highways England’s National Winter and Severe Weather Team Leader, Paul Furlong, said: “We will be working around the clock to keep our roads open and free from disruption."

Wolverhampton council, in a statement on its Facebook page, said: "All of the main routes around the city are moving freely at the moment and so the teams are now focusing on responding to issues in residential areas based on requests from the public for assistance which includes replenishing the grit bins.

"They are also prioritising cemeteries to enable funerals to go ahead as planned, the approach roads to schools and high footfall areas including Dudley Street and roads around the city's markets."

Sandwell Council tweeted on Tuesday morning: "Our crews have been out gritting overnight and this morning. Town centre footpaths are being salted.

"Please be aware of black ice, temperatures have fallen well below freezing overnight. Take care on the roads."

Dudley Council alerted drivers to road condition via social media. It tweeted: "Gritting crews were out throughout the night treating borough roads.

"Gritting continues on the main network and sideroads today [Tuesday], but driving will still be difficult, so please take care."

Staffordshire County Council said: "All of our gritting routes were gritted throughout the night [on Tuesday], but with temperatures as low as -8C in some areas, it will still be icy so take care. "

The council has also created an interactive map showing which streets will be gritted across the county.