A COUNTY councillor has defended using taxpayers' money to buy a salt bin for a Radlett cul-de-sac.

Councillor Caroline Clapper (Con/Watling) gave £690 from her locality budget to Folly Close residents who complained they were regularly stranded by heavy snowfall during winter.

Residents also claimed snow and ice prevented gritting lorries from climbing the steep hill.

Members of Hertfordshire County Council are given £10,000 of taxpayers' money each year to spend in their ward.

However Cllr Clapper admitted some people would question why Folly Close deserved a salt bin ahead of others roads.

She said: “For the past three years, residents have been approaching me saying they get stuck up the road because of the conditions.

“When you can’t get down the hill, and gritting and delivery lorries can’t get up, it leaves you stranded.

“The locality budgets are to make life better for residents and. because I know the history of Folly Close, I'm sure that will be the case here.”

Hertfordshire County Council allocates salt bins, as well as marking routes for the county's gritting lorries.

Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member of highways and transport, said: “It is really up to the councillor what they want to spend the locality budget on.

“The money for the salt bin doesn’t come out of our budget, but still has to go through the process of making sure it is placed in a road that meets our criteria."