A Blackburn with Darwen councillor has responded over accusations that ‘gritting was better’ when a Labour councillor was in charge in his ward.
The war of words emerged as residents in the Shear Brow ward complained over the state of the roads.
Following heavy snow fall on the weekend a number of the steepest streets in Blackburn have become almost impassable due to the ice. Footpaths across the borough in many of the side roads are icy and dangerous.
Council responds to ‘grit thefts’ and plea for more bins on steep roads
Former councillor Hussain Akhtar had shared a video saying things were ‘much better’ when he was councillor.
He said: “I have got phone calls and people said that Mr Akhtar when you were councillor this never happened.
“Since you have gone this has happened. I visited to see if people were telling me the truth.
“We have three councillors. Where are they?
“People say to me Akhtar saab we miss you. You used to work very hard.”
Former mayor Hussain Akhtar was one of the longest standing councillors in the borough and had stood as a Labour candidate in the May local elections.
Present Shear Brow and Corporation Ward, Cllr Muntazir Patel who represents B4D, said he was ‘deeply concerned about the council’s gritting facilities, particularly in this icy conditions.’
He had called for grit bins to be refilled on a more regular basis and urged the council to prioritise more frequent grit bin refills to provide much-needed support.
He said: “I want to address misinformation by former Labour councillor Akhtar, who falsely claims gritting has ceased in Shear Brow as he didn’t got elected as a councillor.
“The council gives priority to the main roads as it has always done. This is the case across the borough and not just for the Shear Brow neighbourhood.
“To suggest that things ‘were better’ when he was councillor is incorrect.
“All we can do is ask for the grit bins to be refilled. The policy is still in the hands of the ruling party which he is a part of.”