CRUNCH talks are set to take place next week between Carmarthenshire road gritters and the local authority in a bid to head off further strikes.

The talks set for Monday, 17 January, take place after gritting staff downed tools on 5 and 6 January.

Gritting staff are expected to strike again next week between 18 and 21 January and again between 24 and 28 January.

Unless agreement is reached, it could mean that Carmarthenshire’s road network remains ungritted for two weeks.

The dispute follows on from action taken two years ago that saw the introduction of the comprehensive collective agreement between the union and the authority.

In December, around 70 gritters in GMB, Unison and Unite unions overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in the new year.

Unions said the strike action was caused by the “intransigence of Carmarthenshire County Council” over its “refusal to follow a signed agreement” which left members with “no other option than to take action.”

Carmarthenshire council said it is “continuing our conversations with trade unions and our staff on this issue, and whilst we wish to avoid industrial action we have contingency measures in place to ensure the safety of travelling public in the event of action taking place.”

Peter Hill, GMB regional organiser said: “We’re pleased the council has come back to the table.

“Let’s be clear, the council can resolve this dispute by honouring the agreements that they already signed with us two years ago."