Roads shut as grit supplies run low

THREE roads were closed today as a grit shortage and cold weather continued to hit North Staffordshire.

Police decided to shut off roads in both directions in Harriseahead, Audley and http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/mytownstafford">Stafford after patrols revealed they were too dangerous to drive on.

Long Lane in Harriseahead was shut between the Stadmorslow Lane junction and the Chapel Lane junction.

Tixall Road in http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/mytownstafford">Stafford was closed between the A518 Weston Road junction and the Holdiford Road junction.

Alsager Road was closed between the A500 junction and the B5500 Nantwich Road junction in Audley.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said the decision had been taken because Staffordshire County Council had been unable to grit the roads.

He said: "One of our patrols was driving along Alsager Road at 1am after attending a road traffic collision and found it too dangerous for vehicles to be on.

"The same happened in Long Lane during a routine patrol at 3.30am when one of our officers felt it was too dangerous for vehicles to be on the road.

"We contacted the county council to inform them of our decision to shut the roads.

"We will be monitoring the situation throughout the day."

A county council spokesman said it was not treating rural roads which may have been treated in the past because of dwindling grit supplies across the county.

But he said A and B roads were continuing to be treated.

He said: "We are focussing on core road networks where the majority of people drive, which means some roads are not getting treated.

"We have a finite amount of resources for the next few days but can't hit everywhere."

Highways cabinet member John Wakefield said the county council was trying to get the maximum benefit out of the limited salt available.

He said: "Like our colleagues across the country, we are looking to nationally co-ordinated efforts to replenish stocks in this exceptional period.

"We are following national guidance and delivering as much as we can, constrained by what is reasonable and practical, in these difficult circumstances."

The county council says it does not know when fresh supplies of grit will arrive.