Controversial plans to take 247 roads off Cheshire East Council's gritting map, which included Congleton roads looks set to be paused so councillors and schools can have their say.

More than 200km of roads across the borough could be cut from the gritting schedule including the heavily used roads in Congleton such as Fol Hollow and Padgbury Lane, which are also school routes.

Other roads in Congleton that may no longer be gritted are Townsend Road and Thomas Drive, as well as other routes in Buglawton, Lower Heath.

Members of Cheshire East Council's environment and regeneration overview and scrutiny committee made the recommendation at Monday's meeting after taking a closer look at the authority's new Well Managed Highway Infrastructure policy, which was adopted by cabinet last month.

Nine Conservative councillors called in the policy for reconsideration – insisting the consultation carried out on it back in summer 2018 was 'flawed' and should be repeated.

It means the policy will now be introduced in winter 2021-22 at the earliest, having previously been in line to go ahead later this year.

Cllr Janet Clowes, leader of Cheshire East's Conservative group, said: "Whilst we fully understand and support the need for this council to adhere to the Well Managed Highway code of practice, the decision made has the potential to significantly damage the reputation of the council.

"The old cabinet was not aware that the consultation was taking place, we did not see the results, and we did not see those documents that were brought forward to you."

The Conservatives argued that the 2018 consultation should not have been carried out during the school summer holidays, that the low number of respondents – just 93 – should have raised alarm bells and that changeover of councillors following last May's election meant scrutiny of the policy had not been consistent.

Current cabinet members were told that Conservative Cllr Don Stockton, cabinet member for highways before last May's election, had signed off the 2018 consultation.

But Cllr Clowes told the committee that Cllr Stockton had been on sick leave at the time and was not taking decisions, while Cllr Rachel Bailey – then-council leader – had not signed it off in his place either.

Independent Cllr Craig Browne, Cheshire East's deputy leader, said: "The irony that many of the signatories [of the call-in] oversaw the design of the consultation and that it was carried out on their watch as cabinet members is not lost on us.

"This is the first time that Cheshire East will have had an evidence-based policy on gritting routes.

"Previously routes were either included or excluded without rationale."

Cllr Browne added that the delay caused by the call-in was costing Cheshire East £230,000 in potential budget savings.

The low number of responses was a key concern for councillors – with Cllr Charlotte Leach, Conservative member for Mobberley, insisting '93 respondents on something that is so significantly important to all residents is unacceptable'.

But members were told that the 93 responses was a similar level to the 103 for Cheshire East's budget consultation and the 94 for new link road and bridge south of Crewe railway station.

"It would seem to me from the numbers that we were quoting that the numbers we had on this are not unusual," added Cllr Mike Hunter, Labour member for Middlewich.

The committee unanimously voted to recommend that Cheshire East's cabinet agrees to a 'streamlined' consultation on the policy, with the council's area highway committees to look into the plans along with town and parish councils, while schools will also be consulted.

The gritting routes are set to be reassessed and reviewed on an annual basis, and councillors will have the opportunity to take part in the review, Cllr Browne confirmed.