Protest over salt bins cutback

Gritters serve many roads in Northamptonshire

Villagers fear a plan to save £50,000 by cutting roadside salt bins in Northamptonshire will mean more winter accidents.

The county council is considering removing around 500 of the yellow bins in the south of Northamptonshire.

The bins provide a supply of salt which drivers can throw on frozen roads to break up the ice.

A review found that many of them are not being used.

Others are on roads that are now served by gritters and some have also been vandalised.

A proposal to remove 500 bins is being opposed by parish councils.

They say the bins earmarked for removal have only been under-used because recent winters have been mild.

They fear a big freeze this year could spell disaster if the roads cannot be kept passable.