Cuts in Winter Road Gritting

In October Bucks County Council announced a reduction in the winter gritting schedules, affecting many roads in this area, to meet a savings target of £200,000 by reducing the vehicle fleet. Avril Davis, our County Councillor and many local residents wrote to protest and challenge the decision but to no avail.

Local roads are affected in Ivinghoe Aston, Cheddington, Slapton, Edlesborough, Marsworth and Pitstone, with consequences not only for motorists safety, but particularly for children waiting for school buses, often in the dark, and where there are no pavements.

Although the cabinet member for transportation, Mrs Val Letheren, responded by agreeing to ask for the restoration of the budget cuts for next year – this is not the same as agreeing to restore the budget cuts next year, and totally inadequate for this year. 

On Tuesday 19th December there were multiple accidents on Ivinghoe Aston hill, and a Bucks Herald reporter had had a personal inviolvement in an accident on an unsalted road at Aston Abbots.

After further pressure from our County Councillor, the Cabinet member wrote to the residents of Ivinghoe Aston informing them the gritters would be routed down the hill in the afternoon.

Further pressure may yet result in a wider reintroduction of gritting in the area. 

Published: 24 January 2007