Overview
- Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley pledged to reassess the winter maintenance review and reinstate grit bins that were missed during the cold snap.
- Dudley is running catch‑up waste rounds and has asked residents to leave bins, boxes and recycling bags at the kerb for collection as conditions allow.
- Stoke-on-Trent reported 350 tonnes of grit spread in 24 hours, said gritters have been operating continuously, and is refilling grit bins across the city.
- Both councils reported disruption to refuse collections due to icy streets, with safety of crews and the public cited as the top priority.
- Residents and local councillors reported safety risks on steep roads and criticized the removals, prompting political disputes over who backed the budget cuts.