Bolton Council has moved to protect gritting services on roads across the borough for next winter and beyond.

Faced with a savings target of £37.2m, the council had proposed changes to gritting routes from the winter of 2023/24. These proposed changes would have introduced a risk-based approach to gritting, which was developed and agreed during two cross-party meetings.

Gritting would have prioritised major routes, the busiest roads and roads providing access to critical infrastructure. On review, and after listening carefully to feedback from residents, the changes will not now go ahead, and existing gritting routes will be retained, said the council.

This is possible due to a reduction in forecast council expenditure in other areas. Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “Winter gritting is a vital service for all road users, and we are therefore pleased to confirm that the existing level of service will now be retained.

“The original proposals, developed with the input from cross-party members, were put forward in the context of significant savings targets.

“However, after reviewing council finances we have identified funding to retain the existing gritting routes and I’m sure all residents will welcome this news.”