A RESIDENT of a Kidderminster estate has predicted "injuries and fatalities" if its roads are not treated during wintry conditions.

Self-employed heating engineer John Fortune, of Puxton Drive, Marlpool Gardens, said: "The roads round here have not been gritted at all and they're like one big skating rink.

"You can't walk on the roads let alone drive on them. It's extremely dangerous - cars can't brake and if a car loses control a pedestrian has got no chance."

Mr Fortune, 53, speaking during last week's cold spell, contrasted this winter's alleged inactivity by Worcestershire County Council with previous years and says taxpayers are not getting value for money. "Only the main roads were gritted. I think residents should get some money back on their council tax."

Meanwhile, Helen Dyke, a Wyre Forest district councillor for Aggborough and Spennells, claimed many elderly constituents in Worcester Road, Cobham Road and Gamson Close had been "marooned in their homes" after pedestrians' only access to the town centre, the footpath leading under the Green Street subway, became "completely unusable" due to ice.

District highways partnership manager Stuart Reynolds said: "It's unfortunate that some members of the community were inconvenienced by the inclement weather.

"On the formation of Worcestershire County Council four years ago there was a reduction in services. A-roads, other classified roads and strategic routes now take priority and then we treat spine roads - which get people in and out of their estates. We don't treat pavements specifically except in the town centre."

He continued: "Given the resources we have I am perfectly happy with our performance.

"We only have such cold weather in Worcestershire two or three days a year and we can't tie up hundreds of thousands in equipment we use so rarely."