A Blackburn councillor has responded to his predecessor who made claims ‘gritting was better’ when he was in charge in the ward.
The war of words emerged as residents in the Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward complained about roads not being treated.
Following heavy snowfall 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 also icy.
Main roads and bus routes are prioritised for gritting, with residents expected to grit their own roads and footpaths using grit bins on minor stretches.
MORE: Council responds to ‘grit thefts' and plea for more bins on steep roads
Former Labour councillor Hussain Akhtar shared a video saying things were ‘much better’ when he was the councillor.
He said: “I have had phone calls and people said, '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'.”
A former mayor, Mr Akhtar lost his seat in the May local elections.
Present Shear Brow and Corporation ward, Cllr Muntazir Patel who represents the 4 BWD party, has called out his predecessor for the 'misinformation' he has spread.
Cllr Patel said he was ‘deeply concerned about the council's gritting facilities, particularly in these 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 Mr Akhtar, who falsely claims gritting has ceased in Shear Brow as he didn't get 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.”
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