COMMUNITY councils have been forced to abandon salt bins in the area as the cost of keeping them would double their precept.

Cash-strapped Gwynedd Council decided they will no longer be able to fill the potentially life-saving grit boxes as they have “no statutory duty to do so” and can save tens of thousands of pounds by devolving the service to community councils.

The decision has left rural councils, such as Llandderfel, Llanycil and other Penllyn councils, “up in arms” as they will no longer be able to salt the twisting, undulating country lanes in their area due to the costs involved.

For Llandderfel council, the local authority has passed on responsibility for 41 salt bins which would cost £156 per box to refill - accumulating to a staggering £6,396 yearly bill for the small community to deal with.

According to a Llandderfel council statement, the only way the community councils would be able to raise such funds to pay for this would be by raising their precept and “doubling” what they are getting at present from parish taxpayers.

After much discussion Llandderfel Community Council, as well as Llanycil Community Council, have voted unanimously not to take responsibility for the salt bins in their parishes.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Gwynedd Council is in the process of filling salt bins in preparation for this winter, but it will be a decision for town and community councils to decide whether they wish salt bins in their area to be replenished.”

Read the full story in this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News