A COUNCILLOR is writing to the chief executive of the county council to complain that lives are being put at risk in bad weather through the poor timing of gritters.

Cllr Nigel Vickery (Lab, Booker and Castlefield) says the snow which arrived at the weekend was not dealt with adequately by the gritters. He feels too few lorries are sent out and the timing is wrong.

Within his ward, Cllr Vickery says he saw three separate near accidents at the weekend and he felt road closures could have been avoided if the gritters had been more efficient.

He said: "I am not too amused at the county council and its gritting policy. They gritted on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning the snow came.

"I saw three cars skidding trying to turn off New Road into Rutland Avenue. Everywhere had been closed off. Marlow Hill, Desborough Avenue and Bookerhill Road had been closed off."

Cllr Vickery said: "I don't think we are getting a fair deal here. I think they are putting lives at risk."

Local resident Lynne Pearce, 49, from Harman Walk, Booker, said: "In our area there is certainly a lot of snow and people drive very fast in poor conditions."

She added: "I think they do the main roads but it is perhaps after the prediction so it is a bit late sometimes."

Richard Burton, spokesman for Buckinghamshire County Council, said: "On Saturday night and Sunday morning the gritters were out across Wycombe. The roads were covered comprehensively between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Once gritted it does take a period of time for the salt and grit to take effect on the snow. If it is going to be freezing or there is a likelihood of snow we send out gritters at four o'clock in the morning before rush hour."