Dudley Council will replace grit bins which have been ‘missed’ during the current cold snap following an online backlash.
Residents and politicians alike called out this policy
The Conservative-run authority planned to remove 500 bins from streets around the borough, however as the region shivered, residents and politicians took to social media calling for a rethink.
On Facebook, Dudley Labour group leader Cllr Adam Aston described the removal of bins as an ‘unmitigated disaster’, Reform UK’s Cllr Shaun Keasey called for the bins to be put back while Tory councillor Adam Davies revealed he was urging highways chiefs to reconsider removals where there was a ‘safety case’.
Dudley’s leader, Cllr Patrick Harley has now pledged to revisit decisions made in a review of winter maintenance agreed in the last budget to save £60,000.
Bins that are being missed will be put back in place
Cllr Harley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Ones that are being missed because of the cold snap; we will re-establish them.
“If we need to put some back clearly we will, we will have a full review but it is pointless to reinstate bins that are never used.”
Labour’s Cllr Shaukat Ali says he has been inundated with reports of missing or empty bins from residents living on steep hills where ice poses a risk, he also says DIY shops in Dudley have been selling out of grit.
Cllr Ali said: “Not every resident can afford to buy bags of grit, and even if they could, it is now increasingly unavailable. Resident safety should never be compromised in this way.”
The proposal was voted in but was not detailed enough
Dudley Liberal Democrats started a petition before Christmas calling for a rethink on bins but have been attacked for voting in favour of the budget containing the review.
Dudley councillor and Labour MP for Stourbridge, Cllr Cat Eccles, said: “It’s fascinating to now see some other councillors who voted for these measures campaigning to reinstate them.”
Dudley Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Ryan Priest, claims the review proposal in the 2025/26 budget lacked detail.
Cllr Priest said: “They have been a bit over-zealous with what has been cut, we have got places where bins have been removed that should never have been, there has been no logic applied to carrying out this decision.”
He believes ward councillors should be consulted about which bins are earmarked for removal while the snow warden scheme could be reinstated.
Cllr Priest added: “It comes at a cost but it is something the people of Dudley want and need.”
Cllr Harley was not impressed by Lib Dem complaints, he said: “The Lib Dems actually voted for it so we will take no lectures from them – maybe they should think of what they are voting for in future.”
Waste collections had to be postponed
During the first days of 2026, council waste collections had to be postponed due to icy roads which fuelled residents’ irritation.
On Facebook, Pritata Wilson told the council: “If you had left the yellow bins people would have gritted the small roads themselves and it would have enabled collections instead we’ve got piling rubbish up the street.”
Also on Facebook Lauren Cotterill said: “Me and my partner went to grit our road with a nursery on (last thing we want was anyone slipping into a small child) we were shocked to find the grit bin gone, in its place one measly bag. It was only enough to do about five meters of the road.”
An article by Local Democracy reporter Martyn Smith
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