Backlash over Reform gritting service changes

A PROPOSAL to move the Valley's gritting service to another borough has received backlash.

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Andy MacNae MP

Lancashire County Council (LCC) have confirmed they intend to close the Rossendale Gritting Depot in Bacup and move the service over to Burnley Widow Hill.

LCC say the Burnley depot offers better facilities, improved resilience for winter maintenance, and avoids costly repairs to the outdated site in Bacup.

The county council, which is run by Reform, add they are currently in consultation with staff who are affected by this change.

Reform Rossendale and Darwen say Rossendale will get five gritters instead of three and there will be more staff on hand, as well as better gritting routes.

In addition, they add it takes 20 minutes for gritting lorries to be filled but at Burnley it will only take three minutes.

However, residents say the fact that gritting vehicles have to travel a longer distance means they will struggle to reach the Valley during poor weather conditions and therefore the service will not be as efficient. A petition has been set up by Rossendale Conservatives opposing the move and attracted more than 200 signatures within six days.

Chris Haworth, from Haslingden, describes the proposal as 'shortsighted' and says he believes it is better to keep the service open at Bacup and look at ways to modernise or use the space.

The self employed carpenter said: "Once again Rossendale gets the short end of the stick.