Belmont Road crash: Councillor disappointed in gritting teams

This is after icy conditions on Belmont Road on Boxing Day (December 26) closed the road between the reservoir and the High Street for several hours.

A motorcyclist was involved in a crash at around 8.30am and was taken to hospital. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Officers at the scene said no gritting was planned until later that afternoon, around 3pm.

Cllr Jean Rigby, who represents the West Pennine ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We get reports all the time about gritting, which is surprising because the highway teams are usually great at gritting beforehand, particularly when they know hoar frost is predicted.

“I am surprised gritting wasn’t done as the highways teams are usually good at gritting the rural routes.

“Had I been made aware of it by residents, I would have been on to them to ask why it hadn’t been done.”

Cllr Rigby said she was “disappointed” that the gritting had not been done and shared well wishes for the motorcyclist.

She said: “I hope the motorcyclist is okay!

“The fact they had to close the road isn’t good and I am disappointed. 

“That is a well-known route and some people may have had to re-route for miles depending on their destination.”

Cllr Rigby did add that she still trusts gritting teams and says there may be an explanation as to why this route had not been gritted.

She said: “I see the gritters around quite a lot in the early hours of the morning.

“There must have been a good reason [why gritting did not appear to take place] – but I do trust them implicitly. These guys know what they are doing.”

The council’s website explains that the timing of gritting depends on various factors, with the optimal approach being to grit at around 6.30pm and/or early in the morning before traffic builds up.

This timing ensures roads are treated in advance of peak traffic, allowing frost to form on already-salted surfaces.

Gritting during rush hour is avoided due to traffic delays.

Challenges can occur when rain continues until temperatures drop, forcing teams to delay gritting until rain stops to avoid salt being washed away.

Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council have been approached for comment.