Greedy tractor driver makes off with grit

A TRACTOR driver allegedly stole around half a tonne of vital grit which should have been used to help keep the borough’s roads and pavements safe.

The driver was spotted loading up from a grit bin on Scarr Lane, Shaw.

And on the same day people in a white van emptied grit bins in the Heron Street and Spencer Street areas of Werneth.

In both cases, which happened on Saturday, the registration numbers have been reported to the police.

With temperatures remaining well below zero, Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for environment and regeneration, warned: “The council takes these incidents very seriously.

“We will take action against offenders where possible.

“With the cold weather set to be here for the next few weeks we can appreciate that people are having difficulties, but removing grit is theft and can have serious consequences.

“We have nearly 600 grit bins across the borough, which are regularly refilled, but it has become clear that people are removing stocks for their own ends which is downright selfish.”

The thefts come as figures released by the TaxPayers’ Alliance show that councils, nationally, ordered less road salt in preparation for 2010/11 than they did the previous year — although Oldham bucked the trend.

The Alliance also says that the cost of purchasing emergency salt can be up to four times as expensive as pre-orders.

In 2009/10 Oldham ordered 7,238 tonnes of road salt, with the figure rising to 7,304 tonnes this year.

It also spent £78,943 on emergency orders in 2009/10.

Rochdale also bucked the national trend ordering 5,000 tonnes up from the 3,962 tonnes the previous winter. Rochdale didn’t order any emergency salt.

Chris Daniel, policy analyst at the Alliance, said: “Many councils were clearly unprepared for the latest icy spell because they had ordered less salt than they did last year.

“While some seem to have learnt from last year and ordered extra supplies for the current winter period, others have not.

“It’s not fair that such an oversight is going to result in a multi-million pound bill for hardworking taxpayers so the councils can buy emergency salt.”

People who witness thefts from grit bins are urged to the registration number and report it the council on 0161-770 4421.

Grit is available to buy for private use only from the Lees Road Depot, Hamilton Street.