Lib Dems back St Gabriel's grit bin campaign after winter weather chaos

Residents of Saint Gabriels have backed a campaign calling for a grit bin to be installed on a Sunderland street after winter weather chaos.

Almost 50 people have backed a local councillor’s petition calling for a grit bin to be installed on Belmont Road in the Saint Gabriels area of Sunderland after pedestrians and motorists were left struggling to get in and out of the estate during recent wintry weather.

Opposition Lib Dem city councillor Julia Potts has gone door to door collecting signatures on a petition calling on Sunderland Council to install a grit bin on Belmont Road which sits on a gradual slope.

This is on the back of chaos during recent snowfalls when residents were unable to exit the street on to Priory Grove and nearby Chester Road after skidding on the un-gritted road in snow and ice.

Pedestrians were also impacted with pavements not gritted leaving many stuck at home until the snow and ice melted rather than able to get to appointments or the shops.

Commenting after submitting the petitions, Liberal Democrat councillor Julia Potts said:

“I appreciate that the council can’t grit every road and can’t put a have a grit bin on every corner but, streets like Belmont Road, which are through routes in the centre of an estate, and on a slope, need to have a grit bin. The local Lib Dem team asked for a grit bin before the wintry weather and the request was denied by the council, this petition shows the strength of feeling in the area and I’m calling on the council to think again and install a grit bin on Belmont Road.”