REDDITCH Council has come under attack for choosing to prioritise leisure centres ahead of shopping areas when it came to making them safe during the worst of the recent bad weather.

Concerned residents from Church Hill contacted the Advertiser last week to say that the council was ignoring their plight.

They said that areas outside the town centre, which can be just as busy, often get overlooked and forgotten when it comes to gritting.

Zoe Gardner from Cutting Edge in Loxley Close, said: “I think it’s disgusting that the council is refusing to help clear shopping centres such as Church Hill in favour of places like Hewell Road swimming pool or the Palace Theatre.

“It should realise that people needing to use shopping centres to buy food in order to survive is more important than someone wanting to go swimming.”

She added: “We know that there are a lot of vulnerable people here in the community who just aren’t able to get out.

“There are a lot of elderly and frail people who have been trapped in their homes for more than a week because they’re scared of coming out and falling or injuring themselves.

“They have had to rely on the kindness of others to bring them essential things like bread and milk.”

Town MP Jacqui Smith said: “As soon as I was contacted about the ice in Church Hill centre I got in touch with the Borough Council.

“I was surprised to learn that the council prioritise things like Hewell Road swimming pool ahead of shopping centres.

“I think that the shops are vital to many people and the council should look again at this policy. Getting basic supplies in a cold snap could be vital.”

A council spokesman said: “The council has to prioritise the areas that it grits and the district centres have not been identified in the revised gritting procedure.

“We did reconsider gritting the district centre, however, given the current levels of grit/salt and the current priority areas, and as footpaths and roads leading to district centres were also not gritted, we maintained our decision not to grit individual district centres.

“The effectiveness of the revised draft procedure will be considered during the spring and a revised procedure and policy will be taken to councillors.

“However, prior to this we will seek to consult with councillors regarding the sites and criteria to ensure an appropriate, affordable approach.”

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