Search for grit bins after refilling complaints

Highways staff in Plymouth have been asked to locate every grit bin in the city

A search to find grit bins in Plymouth is under way after a councillor admitted the local authority does not know where each one is.

Mark Coker, cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, told Plymouth City Council's Housing and Community Services Scrutiny Panel complaints had been received about the green bins not being refilled.

He said the problem stemmed from not knowing where the bins - bought by councillors for their local areas using grants - are located.

Coker added every bin would be refilled for the winter and a review and public consultation would be held to see if they are still needed.

The green bins are used in addition to yellow highway bins to store grit, sand or salt for spreading over roads and pavements to reduce the risk of ice and snow.

Coker said highways staff had been asked to find every grit bin the city as their locations had not been logged, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Value for money'

Panel chairman councillor Lee Finn said it could be time to do away with green bins to make the system simpler.

In response, Coker said: "This is not about getting rid of bins.

"It is a way of controlling them and getting good value for money for the operators."

Panel members said they wanted to see the findings of the review before making a decision.