CASH-strapped council chiefs have told politicians who want more grit bins to pay for them themselves.

But the stance has sparked anger – with critics saying requests for free bins are being rejected in favour of parish councils “who are prepared to pay”.

In September last year Worcestershire County Council revealed requests for grit bins in areas which do not meet its strict criteria would no longer be free.

Along routes which are already gritted, or not considered “priorities”, parish councils would need to pay about £175 to buy one, then £80 to fill it up.

Councillor Peter McDonald, leader of the opposition Labour group, said it was “putting lives at risk”.

Speaking during a full council meeting, he said: “When I put in a request for grit bins they say ‘you can’t have one’, but when a parish council does, they get it because it’s all about the money.

“It’s disgraceful really. It’s putting lives at risk. The county council should provide bins wherever they are needed.

“If a parish council is prepared to pay, they are told it’s OK, but whenever I ask for one I’m refused. It’s not on.” When the scheme was launched in September last year parishes were also told residents would need to maintain the bins.

The county council says the policy is still in place, but that requests for free ones are only turned down in areas where bosses deem it “not necessary”.

The Conservative leadership said councillors should dip into their individual yearly budgets to pay for more.

All 57 councillors at County Hall get £10,000 a year to spend in their local areas, and each item is recorded on a publicly-available database.

Councillor John Smith, the cabinet member responsible for highways, said: “I would encourage him to pay for it out of his own member’s budget. That’s what the money is there for.

“There is no double standards here whatsoever. If any councillors want extra grit bins they can pay for it that way.”