Tory-controlled Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council had to slash gritting by 25 per cent and stop filling grit bins as the cold snap bit.
The Conservative MP for Meriden said: “Despite plenty of advance warning from the Local Government Association, the Gordon Brown’s Government was slow to react to the worst weather crisis in decades.
“We have seen shortages of salt and grit. Councils have been asked not to refill grit bins and only to treat major roads.”
She said in a press release: “We have also had confusion over whether to clear ungritted pavements and driveways.
“In the past, people did this to make it easier for pedestrians: now they are afraid to in case of being sued for any injuries people might suffer in a fall.
“The result is slushy and slippy pavements outside shops and even outside some doctors’ surgeries.”
And she said councils are working ‘flat out’ to fill potholes but budgets were under-funded by Government.
Mrs Spelman said: “With more snow forecast and more damage expected, the government needs to give careful guidance to councils and to members of the public so they can be clear about what they can do to keep roads and paths safe.”
The council has slashed grit bins by half, The Silhillian reported yesterday. Click here for more stories about the weather.
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