Left in the Cold: East Riding’s Rural Communities and New Estates Abandoned by Gritting Strategy
The Bus Route Barrier
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council currently prioritizes "Precautionary Salting" on a network covering roughly 30% of East Riding’s 2,200 miles of roads. While this includes primary A and B roads, many smaller villages are excluded from the primary network.
When the snow falls, some rural roads often become impassable. For a pensioner in a rural village, access to neighbouring villages and towns isn't a luxury; it’s a lifeline for groceries, medical appointments, and social connection. Without gritted roads, these residents are effectively under house arrest.
The "New Estate" Oversight
The crisis isn't limited to the countryside. A growing number of new estates and housing developments across the East Riding have been left completely off the map when it comes to winter safety. Many of these modern developments lack even a single salt bin, leaving residents to navigate treacherous, untreated slopes and pavements.
"The impact on these new communities is clear, we are currently working with ERYC to rectify this lack of infrastructure. It is unacceptable that new residents pay their council tax only to find their mobility and independence stripped away the moment the temperature drops." Cllr Gareth Shepherd
"Trapped in Our Own Homes"
The reality on the ground is stark. We have received harrowing reports from residents in both historic villages and new developments who have been trapped for days at a time.
Even those with vehicles find themselves unable to navigate the thick ice and snow left on untreated side roads and pavements.
”It is heartbreaking to hear from elderly residents who are terrified to step out of their front door for fear of a fall. When the council fails to grit these communities and then fails to provide the salt for residents to help themselves, they are effectively abandoning people to isolation” Cllr Gareth Shepherd
The Salt Bin Scandal: Empty or Non-Existent
Salt bins are meant to be the final line of defense, allowing communities to clear local hazards. However, feedback from across the East Riding suggests a systemic failure:
Persistent Neglect: In established areas, residents report salt bins have remained empty for years, despite multiple reports filed through official channels.
The "Rubbish" Reality: Due to neglect, some bins have been misused as litter bins, rendering them useless during a freeze.
Missing Infrastructure: In new developments, bins simply haven't been installed, leaving residents with no way to help themselves.
The 2026 Crisis: With 2026 bringing particularly harsh spells of ice, the lack of grit has left vulnerable adults and pensioners trapped with no safe routes out of their own streets.
Our Call to Action
The East Riding Liberal Democrats believe that safety should not be determined by your postcode or how recently your house was built. We recognise how hard our council employees are working on the ground, but the strategy is failing. We are calling for:
Prioritisation of All Bus Routes: No village should be cut off from public transport due to ice.
A "Salt Bin Guarantee": A commitment to refill all reported empty bins and install bins in new developments before the winter season begins.
Support for Community Resilience: Ensuring all areas; rural, coastal, and suburban, have the tools to protect their own neighbors.
"The council tells people to report empty bins online, but residents are doing their bit and seeing no action. We need a council that listens and acts before the ice sets in, not one that leaves residents to slide into isolation." Cllr Gareth Shepherd.
How You Can Help
If you are aware of an empty salt bin, a new estate without any grit provision, or a dangerous, ungritted bus route in your area, please continue to report it here:
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