The coldest winter for 120 years and a national road salt supply problem ‘severely tested’ Shropshire Council’s winter services.

But the overall performance last winter was of a ‘high standard’ and that means the authority should be ‘well prepared’ for the coming cold weather, councillors have been told. They were told at a meeting of the council’s protecting and enhancing our environment scrutiny committee last night.

Members looked at a report on preparations for the winter based on last year’s performance.

A review of gritting routes and cutting the number of vehicles from 28 to 25 saved the authority £51,000.

Meanwhile, 20 tractor-mounted gritters used by farmers with local knowledge of hard to reach areas also proved a success.

Bob Ellis, environment service manager, said although the council had plenty of salt in stock at present, it had to be very careful with its usage.

At one stage last winter, three weeks’ worth of salt production was spread on the country’s roads in a single day. But there was concern over the future of grit bins, which were very expensive to maintain.

He said it cost £80 to fill a single grit bin with half a ton of salt and the council had 1,600 of them. There had also been reports of theft from grit bins, he added.

Although he said this was ‘very unusual’, he highlighted a case in Oswestry where ‘people came and emptied a number in one fell swoop’.

The authority is trying to reduce its reliance on bins by investing more in tractor mounted gritters. But Councillor Miles Kenny was concerned that urban areas, particularly those where the elderly lived, would suffer if bins were removed.

And Councillor Christian Lea said grit bins were essential in hilly rural areas around Bridgnorth.

But Mr Ellis said it was not a case of removing bins but of rationalising how they were used. In rural areas tractors were more effective, he added.

“Urban places are the last places where we will be getting rid of them,” he added.

Members were also told that the council faced a small number of legal claims each winter.