Grit Staffordshire Pavements Urgently Say Councillors After Icy Falls

Staffordshire roads got extra icy this year. Officials hoped for a mild winter, but that did not happen. Gritters drove 25,000 miles to clear roads in just ten days. This happened around the start of 2025, council members learned, and they were updated on the highway recovery plan’s progress.

Councillor Atkins said Leek’s pavements were dangerous. She asked about icy conditions at a meeting where the council discussed economy, infrastructure, and communities. She noted that the market even closed due to ice.

Pavement repairs are lacking, she said, explaining that they do not grit pavements there at all. Many older people live there, leading her to believe that icy pavements lead to falls. More falls mean more A&E visits, she added, and the ambulance service faces increased demand.

What is the plan for this, she wondered, pointing out that roads get gritted, but not sidewalks. People walk in the road because it is safer, leading her to ask what the plan is to address this situation. Some people fear going out due to ice, and pedestrians deserve help like drivers do.

Councillor Deaville does not value drivers over walkers. He said it isn’t possible to grit every road, and he wishes they had funds to grit all main roads. He said they lack resources to grit pavements, and they provide grit bins instead.

There are over 3,000 grit bins in many places, and they refill them regularly. People often ask for more grit bins, so officers assess the need and install them. In remote areas, they leave grit piles.

Local communities can help too, he stated, adding that he often grits himself, where needed. Care homes need the most attention, and he and other volunteers help there. While it might not be a strategy, it’s community help as they had an “Ice Busters” scheme before.

The council could work more with local groups, as local people can really help out, he thinks. Councillor Atkins heard complaints about Leek’s gritting and asked if the cold kept the grit from working well. They gritted early, but it stayed icy.

James Bailey explained the gritting schedule, stating that Leek Market’s route got treated the night before. It got treated again at 4 AM, and a third treatment was planned for 7 AM. The market was already set up by then, so they could not grit that part, adding that the changing weather might have caused the problem.

Councillor Deaville said winter hurt the roads. It was hoped this winter would be milder, but it turned out to be just as bad as last year. Five named storms occurred this winter, and a long cold snap also occurred. The teams work hard in bad weather.

They repair roads in summer and winter. He thanked them for their hard work, and Councillor Hutton also thanked the gritting crews. He said 25,000 miles in 10 days is amazing.