HAVING read the tidings of great joy from Judith Moss about the gritting of the roads in Blackburn (Letters, January 7), I wonder why, if side roads were passable, as she says, the binmen failed to turn up on Wednesday?

No doubt they saw the sheet ice we suffered for over a week and thought better of it.

When I finally managed to get my car mobile, I slid down Palatine Road sideways twice -- stopping inches short of a gable end wall.

Should a serious accident occur under these conditions does Ms Moss think the council should foot the bill?

Perhaps the next time we have a repeat of these atrocious conditions Ms Moss would pay our area a visit, then perhaps she would understand what people complained about.

When one lives on a road with a 1 in 5 gradient and with a camber to boot, we would expect gritters on the second or third day after the snow fall.

I have, however, my own tidings of great joy -- I found my journey from the Infirmary to home this week a 'breeze' -- eight minutes. Well done, Councillor Ashley Whalley.

SAM SPENCE, Ribblesdale Place, Blackburn.