Fed up Broadfield man left in dark over grit bins

AN ANGRY resident who has offered to salt the "steepest road in Crawley" himself has been told that no-one will pay for a grit bin.

Fed up Brian Nicholls has been at war with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) for more than five years and has been campaigning to get Hobbs Road in Broadfield onto the county gritting list.

Now, not only has he been told he will not get any help in salting the road, but he has been told he will have to pay for the grit bins to be put in himself.

The 56-year-old said: "It is getting ridiculous, it is beyond a joke. All I want is for the road I live in to be safe."

Mr Nicholls has repeatedly warned the council "somebody will be killed" on the steep road when the weather turns icy after a catalogue of accidents happened last year.

He said: "Nothing I say seems to get through. I have told them it is dangerous, but they have said it is not viable to add the road to the gritting lists.

"Somebody will be killed sooner or later. Whether the council agree to grit the roads or not it has to be done. So if they won't, I will have to."

Mr Nicholls has contacted WSCC with the aim of getting three grit bins placed on the hill.

However, the council is refusing to pay for it, stating it is the responsibility of Crawley Borough Council (CBC).

He said: "I have been passed from pillar to post. I have asked WSCC as I thought they were responsible for highways.

"They told me to go to CBC. I went to them and they said it is not their job.

"The past couple of years I have been going up and down with a wheelbarrow filled with salt, it is just not on.

"It makes you wonder what we are paying our taxes for."

A CBC spokesperson said: "WSCC is responsible for maintaining the vast majority of Crawley roads, including gritting during cold weather. As a result we do not supply grit bins to our residents."

WSCC was unable to comment as the News went to press.

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