RESIDENTS in Lancashire could be given the option of a council tax increase in return for more gritting on the county’s roads.

Our Grit Watch feature has been inundated with complaints about roads that have been left untreated during the recent cold snap.

This is despite stocks being upped by 35 per cent, bring the total cost to £5million for Lancashire County Council alone.

But county hall officials have said that if people were willing to accept the extra cost then they would be prepared to carry out a review into increasing the gritting network in the future.

Tim Ashton, the county’s gritting chief, said: “We carry out a review after every winter and if the winters continue like this then we may have to consider the option of putting more money towards gritting.

“But we have to put things into perspective and wait until the dust has settled and take a balanced view in the new year because at the moment it is very subjective because people are suffering.

“We will make some recommendations next year and if there is a popular consensus to increase taxes to pay for extra gritting then of course it will be considered.”

Last year’s winter gritting service was strongly criticised.

So far, a team of 49 gritters have spread 14,000 tons of salt across the county leaving 16,000 tons in the reserves.

Coun Ashton, member for highways and transport, added: “There is still some snow lying on the roads even though they have been treated and it is because of the low temperatures that we have been experiencing which makes the salt less effective.

“I would urge people to take extra care when driving and avoid unnecessary journeys which will lead to less congestion on the roads.”