PLANNED county council changes to winter gritting will hit East Lancashire hardest putting its motorists at risk, an MP has warned.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones lowering the road temperature at which the lorries loaded with salt and grit would be sent out was 'a risky cut' and 'a disaster waiting to happen'.

But Lancashire County Council's Tory transport boss Cllr Keith Iddon defended the decision by the authority's Cabinet earlier this month, accusing the Labour backbencher of 'scaremongering'.

Last winter the gritters are sent out on the main roads when temperatures are due to fall to 1.0 Celsius or below.

Now they will only operate when the temperatures are predicted to be 0.5C. or below.

Cllr Iddon denies this was a cut but a more sensible use of resources using the latest technology which could save up to £110,000 and 1,800 tonnes of salt a year.

Mr Jones said: "These are risky cuts to winter gritting which will hit hilly and higher up East Lancashire hardest.

"The move is predicted to reduce the number of gritting treatments by a 894 across Lancashire.

"This will affect the higher altitude boroughs of Ribble Valley, Hyndburn., Burnley, Pendle, and Rossendale worst.

"The lack of gritting will see more accidents and injuries in the east of the county

"There is also a risk of lack of action by the council, as inaccurate forecasting is a possibility and therefore the potential for road hazards.

“After what has been described as one of the worst winter on record, the Conservative administration’s response is to cut winter gritting.

"The gritting service is vital, for hospitals, schools, support getting to vulnerable people at home and Lancashire people getting to work.”

“If we have another bad winter this is a disaster waiting to happen.

"We’ve already faced greater road risk due to shocking pothole repairs and cuts to street lighting. Public safety should be the number one priority, rather than making savings."

Cllr Iddon said: "Mr Jones is scaremongering to score cheap political points.

"This is not a cut but is about using the latest technology to increase efficiency.

"It will save money but also valuable resources such as salt, staff man hours and vehicle running cots.

"It is actually 894 outings over two years not one.

"There are no reductions in the number of gritting lorries, crews or stocks of grit.

"If we had used this technology over the last couple of years it would have saved the county council £220,000 and 3,600 tonnes of salt.

""The decision on whether to send out the gritters is taken by experienced staff according to the most accurate information available on local weather conditions. This method is very well developed."

.The Cabinet meeting on August 9 was told that more reliable weather forecasts and accurate roadside monitoring stations mean a lower margin of error could be safely introduced.

The report says that the recommendation to adopt the 0.5C threshold would still allow for any errors in the forecast, and that the council's forecast provider would alert highways officers if it changed for the worse.