I would like to thank Coun Tim Ashton for his open letter (LT, June 22) and congratulate him on his recent new appointment.

I wish him well and hopefully together we can improve the dismal gritting management of the winter past.

We have spoken recently about our collective approach, we have never crossed words in our 12 months together on the County Council and I have supported his efforts publicly. This despite receiving unfounded public criticism from him during the Parliamentary campaign.

His letter seems to refer to some duff information. There was a full Conservative review last Autumn following his harsh criticism of the winter previous in which many County Councillors lost their seats such as Labour's Matthew Tomlinson as a consequence of that voracity.

I accept it is convenient to blame the previous administration in order to duck personal responsibility. However having read his election promises on leaflets it is important that any administration is held to account.

Conservative Buckinghamshire for example had 67 days of salt stocked and we had around 10. We need to consider stocking non-perishable grit for grit boxes and other supplementary gritting.

Cost savings, greater stockpiles, greater partnership working, vehicles out on 'patrol and grit' and local knowledge were all areas that should have been reviewed and I am sure he will be looking in to these for the benefit of the people for Lancashire.

I agree wholeheartedly that this provides an opportunity to work together in this area, a genuine offer made in the spirit of cooperation, something I aspire to and his letter represents a fresh healthy start.

Keith Young is an honourable member and it is with regret he was unable to see the job through.

I hope that we can work together to keep Lancashire moving with better co-operation.

County Councillor Graham Jones, Hyndburn