Winter gritting will not be cut after highways chiefs performed a U-turn following an outcry.

The Bolton News reported that routes were to drastically cut because of cash.

But now the council has said following a rethink it will protect gritting services on roads across the borough for next winter and beyond.

Faced with a savings target of £37.2m, the council had proposed changes to gritting routes from the winter of 2023/24.

These proposed changes would have introduced a risk-based approach to gritting, which Town Hall chiefs say was developed and agreed during two cross-party meetings.

Gritting would have prioritised major routes, the busiest roads and roads providing 'access to critical infrastructure'.

Now the local authority has said that 'on review, and after listening carefully to feedback from residents, the changes will not now go ahead, and existing gritting routes will be retained'.

Bolton winter gritting programme to be slashed to save money

This is because, say the council,  "due to a reduction in forecast council expenditure in other areas".

Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “Winter gritting is a vital service for all road users, and we are therefore pleased to confirm that the existing level of service will now be retained.

“The original proposals, developed with the input from cross-party members, were put forward in the context of significant savings targets.

“However, after reviewing council finances we have identified funding to retain the existing gritting routes and I’m sure all residents will welcome this news.”