At least 30 roads in Congleton are due to be removed from the list of those to be gritted during winter and residents only have until tomorrow (Friday) to respond to Cheshire East Council's consultation.

Martin Knott, of Lower Heath, Congleton, has raised a live e-petition entitled 'Reinstate proposed winter gritting withdrawals of several key Congleton roads' in response to Cheshire East's proposals, set out in the authority's well-managed highway infrastructure programme.

In comparison to Congleton, the proposals would see just three routes in Sandbach potentially removed.

Mr Knott, a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, said in his e-petition: "There appears to have been little general public awareness of these proposals."

Cheshire East said the proposed winter treatment network had been developed using a risk-based process to take into consideration local risk factors, including usage, local amenities, vulnerable users, public transport and local risks such as steep gradients, cold spots and other known local issues.

Mr Knott continued: "From some local knowledge it appears that certain criteria's have been underestimated such as access and transport to primary schools, some steep short hills, and some communities with difficult single access roads."

Mr Knott highlighted a number of specific issues with the borough's proposals:

- Waggs Road and adjoining Fol Hollow: "This long undulating winding road" uniquely serves Marfield Primary School and singly connects an estate of 150 dwellings."

- Buxton Old Road: "This short undulating road within two main road entrances uniquely serves Buglawton Primary and an estate of 200 dwellings with no other access."

- Forge Lane: "A steep entrance cul-de-sac dropping down close to the river which has been developed uniquely to reach 100 new dwellings."

- Padgbury Lane: "Carries secondary school traffic to Congleton High School, and a route that might be significant after the link road completion."

- Swaledale Avenue: "This is a very steep single access road to 50 dwellings."

The following 33 roads are due to be removed from gritting:

- Bailey Crescent

- Beatty Drive

- Berkshire Drive

- Brunswick Street

- Buxton Old Road

- Chapel Street

- Coronation Road

- Crossledge

- Daisybank Drive

- Daven Road

- Davidson Avenue

- Dixon Road

- Fern Crescent

- Fol Hollow

- Forge Lane

- Foster Road

- Harvey Road

- Havannah Lane

- Highcroft Avenue

- Kennet Drive

- Kent Drive

- Leigh Road

- Moody Street

- Padgbury Lane

- Pirie Road

- Somerset Close

- Swaledale Avenue

- Thames Close

- Under Rainow Road

- Wagg Street

- Waggs Road

- Walfield Avenue

- Woolston Avenue

The following Congleton roads could be added:

- Cross Lane

- Fern Crescent

- Back Lane

- Radnor Park

- Delamere Road

- Longdown Road

- Sycamore Avenue

- Cumberland Road

- Chestnut Drive

Mr Knott stated that comments to the proposal should be urgently emailed to [email protected] with "Attention of highways" in the subject line.

The e-petition which can be signed here has 200 signatures.