Bolton winter gritting programme to be slashed to save money

Under new plans, Bolton Council will only grit roads in the very high risk category to save £257,000 - only gritting roads with the largest traffic volumes, major routes, and critical infrastructure.

The changes were detailed in a council document and in response to cuts in central funding.

The report states: "As a consequence of the savings options proposed in the February 2021 budget report, the Winter Service Budget is proposed to be reduced by £257k. "This effectively means that the council will need to reduce its treatment regime to the very high-risk category - ie the resilient network only."

The report adds: "It is beyond the resources of the council to treat the entire highway network in winter conditions and therefore the prioritisation of routes must take place.

"A risk-based approach has been investigated, where every road owned by the council, has been assessed and placed within a specific category.

"Given the council’s current financial challenges, 5 risk categories of highway were identified."

More salt bins will be installed.

However, the report states that the reduction of services could lead to claims.

"A decision to reduce the council’s treatment option to the ‘very high’ risk category is likely to lead to an increase in personal injury/accident claims made against the council."

But it goes on to add: "Having an approved risk plan in place along with a clear decision on service standard reduction, will provide a level of defence for the council."

And the council admits that bus routes may be affected and therefore in turn will affect all people who use public transport  - older people and young adults (school age) are more likely to use local bus services.

Cllr David Wilkinson says the cuts  will have significant implications on residents across Westhoughton who use public transport.

He said: “The report was approved and for Westhoughton it will have significant implications because quite a number of routes will be removed.

“Virtually all the gritting routes in Daisy Hill will be removed and a number of other gritting routes which will affect bus services in particular so in winter the number seven bus will be on a large area of ungritted routes between Wigan and Bolton including Hindley Road, Southfield Drive, Washacre and also Bolton Road is going to be removed from the gritting route as well.

“All of that is the number seven route which is the main bus route between Bolton and Wigan but is also a bus route for the 516, the 520 and possibly the 512 as well so it will have an impact on bus services.

The roads that will not be gritted moving forward (Image: Bolton Council)

“In Chew Moor, the route from the A6 that also on the map looks like it will be removed and will impact on the bus service that goes through that area and these are not quiet residential roads they are main arterial roads so we will have an impact on bus services if we have ice or snow and it will also impact upon residents who are trying to get to work in Bolton or Wigan or even to the motorway.

“Although they have approved it now, it will only come through to effect in the winter of 23/24.

“Some of the comments which residents have put about this, they are not happy about it."

Bolton Council states in the report it aims to provide a winter service which, insofar as is reasonably practicable, will permit safe movement of traffic and minimise delays and accidents directly attributable to adverse weather conditions, having regard to financial constraints and legal requirements.

But it adds: "However, it is important to note that this does not create an absolute duty on the Council to remove ice and snow from all council-owned roads and footways."

Cllr Wilkinson said the council also admitted that more accidents and injuries are likely to happen due to the cuts in gritting.

He said: "On the report it has been made clear that the council admits there will be more accidents and more people will be injured because there will be less roads gritted meaning there will be more ice, frost and snow during the winter months and there will be an increase in accidents, the council admits it.”

And Westhoughton isn't the only area impacted, a number of roads across the borough will no longer be gritted in the winter months.

The cuts to the winter maintenance comes as the council introduce 'The Savings Programme' which is the councils response to national austerity measures and the sharp fall in the amount of grant funding received from central government.

In February 2021, the council identified savings options of £37.2m for the 2021-23 period and the Highways Winter Maintenance function has been identified as an area which could contribute towards these savings.

As a consequence of the savings options proposed in the February 2021 budget report, the Winter Service Budget is proposed to be reduced by £257k.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Stuart Haslam, said:“This certainly was not a decision I wanted to take, the winter gritting service fulfils a vital service for road users.
“The changes to the gritting route are part of the council’s wider saving of £37.2m identified for the 2021-23 budget period.
“The council has adopted a risk-based approach to winter maintenance, meaning each road in the borough has been categorised in priority order.
“Under this approach, gritting will continue along all major routes, roads that have the largest volume of traffic and those which provide access to critical infrastructure.
“Two cross-party meetings were held with elected members to develop and agree on the new risked based policy.
“The new policy will not be implemented until the winter of 2023/24.”