Councillor Margaret Simon (Wistaston Ward) challenged Cabinet at full Council last week, to come forward with the results of last autumn’s second consultation regarding the future of rural and suburban winter gritting routes.
She has summarised her legitimate concerns in a letter to the press:
Dear Editor,
At this week’s Cheshire East Full Council meeting I asked, once again, if the Labour/Independent Cabinet had made up its mind regarding its proposal to axe winter gritting from some of our semi-rural and rural roads.
Cutting winter gritting was first mooted, by what was then a brand new Labour/Independent administration back in mid 2019.
This uncaring and ill considered decision caused a great deal of concern and it was called in for further discussion at a Scrutiny Committee, almost a year ago, in March 2020.
The Scrutiny Committee advised the Cabinet to have a rethink about their potentially dangerous decision which, in some cases, would even affect roads outside of schools.
Residents who live in the road in my Ward, where winter gritting is due to be removed, are not impressed that the Cabinet can prevaricate for so long over whether or not it will continue to be gritted.
It is outrageous that we are now in 2021 and everyone is still waiting for a decision on whether or not a core service will be axed.
Winter gritting is a fundamental service that Cheshire East Council should continue to provide.
The Council should do everything it can to help to keep its residents safe.
Making cuts to winter gritting is unthinkable.
Yours,
Cllr Margaret Simon
Cheshire East Councillor for Wistaston Ward
Cllr Margaret Simon
Role: Chair, Crewe & Nantwich Conservative Association
Wistaston Ward
Cllr Margaret Simon
Correspondence address:
c/o Westfields
Middlewich Road
Sandbach
