Following the second prolonged period of snow this year Liberal Democrats are demanding a rethink of the gritting policy of Conservative run Herts County Council.

After three days of snow or below zero temperatures, many residents are now asking why their roads and pavements have not been gritted. Although it would be unreasonable to grit every road in the county, the County Council does not appear, despite having massive supplies of road salt, to be able even to grit those detailed on its web site.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst commented: ‘In my own county division of Central Watford and Oxhey have had to question why at least 8 roads listed as being gritted have not been done. On top of that, there are dozens of side roads that are essential for access which have not not been touched.

‘This is just not good enough. Even roads that were gritted last year after residents complained have not been done and it seems some salt bins have been removed.’

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said: ‘We now have people trapped in their homes and unable to get out and go shopping in the few days before Christmas because the roads and footways are solid with ice. I was quite pleased to see the gritting lorries out in good time on on the main roads last week – but they’ve had plenty of time since to do the side roads. Residents are rightly saying “why haven’t the roads been gritted?”. Freezing weather is clearly going to be quite common and the county council is going to have to have adequate plans in place to deal with it.’

Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition at County Hall said: ‘We have received reports from across the county that gritting was not effective. And yet all we get from the county council is a self-congratulatory press release.’