CALLINGTON residents have been 'steam rollered' by Cornwall Council after cuts in the budget mean fewer roads will be gritted this winter.

That was the opinion of one resident at a town council meeting last week after being told that only the A roads through the town will be gritted by Cornwall Council.

Resident Brian Riley asked if the town council had made any arrangements for gritting roads as Cornwall Council had 'opted out'.

Cllr Jeremy Gist said: 'Some roads will be done and some won't. There has been cutbacks. I don't think any side roads or Liskeard Road will be done. The county council nor the town council have the money to do it.

'For a town the size of Callington, with only three members of staff, even if we bought all the salt we couldn't do it. Physically as a county and a country we can't afford to do it.

'I salted outside my office — that is what people are going to have to do now. If people want something done about the roads, we have to do it ourselves.'

Mr Riley said: 'My health isn't getting any better. Why not give older people guidelines on what to do to give them an idea??A t least people will feel like they've been cared about rather than steam-rollered by Cornwall Council.'

Cllr Andrew Long said: 'The main roads we have gritting routes confirmed for are the A388 and the A390. They are not doing Fore Street or Hay Road down to the health centre — that is a really dangerous spot.'

Cllr Long said he had spoken to the head of highways about considering Fore Street and Hay Road and he was now waiting for a response.

'There are 10,000 miles of highways in Cornwall. They have given a list of A roads which will be cleared as well as entrances to schools and colleges but sadly not health centres.

'None of us like it. It was a political decision to reduce the budget, it is not a decision Callington Town Council has made.'

Councillors agreed that guidelines should be created for residents on how to deal with the snow and how to grit their own areas. When the guidelines have been produced, they will be published in the town council's newsletter.