Budleigh pensioner condemns council over gritting
A PENSIONER stuck at home for ten days during the recent spell of heavy snowfall has hit out at the county counil for a lack of road gritting.
Norman Bolt and his wife, Jenny, from Budleigh Salterton, were so alarmed by the treacherous wintery weather they did not leave their home, in Bedlands Lane, for nearly a fortnight.
Mr Bolt, 71, angry over an apparent lack of gritting by the local authority, said: “We were stuck at our house for 10 days except on Sunday 19th because Devon County Council thinks Bedlands Lane is a minor road.
“It is as important to Budleigh as Station Road is to Sidmouth and Dinan Way is to Exmouth – the latter two of which were both gritted and kept open.”
Mr Bolt added: “It is the second main road into Budleigh and is also a bus route. Luckily we had enough food in the house.
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“It’s crazy because just about everyone who lives in the town travels through Bedlands Lane.”
Mr Bolt said hopefully the county council would take notice of the residents of Budleigh the next time snow falls.
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Budleigh Mayor Tom Wright, speaking during the cold snap, said: “We were very disappointed with the county council’s response to the cold weather.
“We just can’t understand why major routes in the town were not gritted.”
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, defended the local authority’s action during the snowfall period.
He said the council’s gritting teams were committed to doing their utmost.
