Decision to cancel grit bins labelled 'outrageous'

Campaigners have urged their local council to reverse its "outrageous" decision to remove grit bins from streets to save money.

Dudley Council is in the process of removing about 500 grit bins from roads across the borough after a review of sites in May 2025.

A petition set up by Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen Liberal Democrats reads: "We believe this is an outrageous thing to do, especially at the start of winter."

Councillor Simon Phipps, Dudley cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: "We found that the public weren't using nearly a quarter of residential grit bins, and these have been removed allowing us to focus resources where they are of most benefit."

He added: "We have never gritted residential footpaths, we have always prioritised the main road network in order to make our roads as safe and free flowing as possible when the weather turns.

"More than 700 bins remain across the network and we would encourage residents to continue to use them."

Mr Phipps also said gritters would "continue to serve the main road network".

Councillor Andrew Tromans, from Dudley's Liberal Democrats, said: "This once again speaks to Dudley's ruling Tory group knowing the price of everything and value of nothing.

"Weather patterns are unpredictable and who knows when we may need grit bins to make roads on a steep gradient safe to use.

"I urge the council to listen to residents and reinstate grit bins where they are needed."

Grit bins were debated at December's meeting of the full council where borough leader, Patrick Harley, defended the policy of removal.

He said: "Some of those bins haven't been filled in five years, the grit had been there for five years so clearly people are not using them.

"Talk about wasting money, that is just pouring money down the drain if we continue to keep them in situ."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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