PENDLE councillors have labelled the county council’s policy on winter maintenance as a ‘shambles’ after it refused to help in tackling snow-covered roads.

The ward representatives slammed the county council for failing to refill empty salt bins and refusing their request for extra salt to spread themselves.

They said the roads and pavements across the borough remain in a ‘treacherous’ condition and accused county chiefs of not understanding their needs.

But county bosses said the situation was something people ‘have to live with’ in the area.

Coun David Whipp said Pendle Council was more than willing to assist in clearing the roads. He said: “We ended up with a ludicrous situation where we ran out of grit. We asked for further supplies and were told it was against policy.

“It’s taken three days for me to convince them to fill the roadside grit bins. They have now five gangs filling up the bins, but they only had one at first. It’s an example of their compla-cent attitude.”

Until two years ago Pendle Council was responsibile for making roads safe after it had snowed or was icy.

Coun Whipp said the county was not ‘tested’ last year because of the mild conditions.

The salt spreading rate has been reduced from 40 grammes per square metre to 31 and a new product called Safecoat is being used.

Hazel Harding, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “It’s one of the things we have come to live with and expect.

“There are some types of weather that are extremely difficult to deal with. Gritting wagons can’t turn down side roads.

“I’m not confident that we will please everyone, but I am confident we will certainly keep the main important roads open. What David Whipp is saying is insulting to the people who worked very hard.”

Matthew Tomlinson, the county councillor’s highway chief, added: “We have a clear policy on winter main-tenance and we have spent more money in Pendle than any other borough.

“All primary roads were gritted on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, on three separate occasions on each night.

“There was a request for us to release extra sand and grit and it’s true to say it was refused while we assessed our own provisions.

“Once it had been assessed Pendle Council was told they could have some and that happened.”