School closures and grit bin moans after snow

Freezing temperatures and snowfall have halted the first day back at school and caused disruption on the roads across the Black Country.

Snow coated the region with yellow weather warnings issued and temperatures expected to drop to -3C later.

In Dudley, 10 schools were shut due to the weather with bus services diverted from their usual routes following the overnight snowfall.

MP for Stourbridge Cat Eccles said she had been inundated with complaints from residents about Dudley Council's decision to remove grit bins from streets to save money. The council is in the process of removing about 500 grit bins from roads across the borough.

Eccles said she was "not entirly sold" on the savings that are claimed to be made by not having the grit bins out all year round.

"The council said they were removing them where they were close to mainroads or gritting routes.

"What I've found from residents is that they have been removed from little cul de sacs on really steep inclines that are far away from main roads.

"I can appreciate the council's argument, but I think the outcry we've had this weekend, and the amount of people saying that they were the one who went out to help their elderly residents or who went out to grit the road so that people could get around shows that there is a need for some of those to be reinstated," Eccles told BBC Radio WM.

Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure said the council had always prioritised the main road network.

"We always monitor winter conditions and feedback from residents and last year we invested in new gritting equipment to allow better access to narrow streets," he said.

He added more than 700 bins were still in place.

West Midlands Fire Service warned drivers of icy roads and poor visability.

Two of three lanes were closed on the M5 northbound, near J3 for Quinton, following a crash.

A Met Office spokesperson said: "Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous.

"Keep yourself and others safe by planning your route, giving yourself extra time for your journey. Check for road closures or delays to public transport and amend plans if necessary."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has amber cold weather alerts for England running until Friday - warning that temperatures are likely to impact people's health.

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