Frustrated neighbours who get stuck in their homes when it snows have clubbed together to buy their own salt bin after the council refused to.

Residents of Chevening Close, Walderslade, say the roads become “treacherous” in winter and many are not able to get off their driveways when snow settles.

For the last few years, they have been asking Medway Council to provide a salt bin on their road but have been told it does not meet their criteria, which includes having a severe bend.

Matt Nolan, who has lived on the estate for around 20 years, has been spearheading the fight to get a grit bin.

He branded the council’s decision to refuse to provide a salt box “nonsense” after he bought one and 10 bags of grit for £230.

“Medway Council are putting money before health and safety,” the 52-year-old told KentOnline. “I understand they have budget issues but it is a low-cost item for a safety issue.”

It has had to be placed on Matt’s front lawn as he was told it would obstruct the highway if it was on the pavement and the local authority would be made to remove it.

“This is a ridiculous statement given that almost all council salt bins are located on the pavement,” he added. “It is just nonsense. I am just trying to do the right thing.”

He argued other roads, such as Gatcombe Close, which is less than 150 yards away and has the same issues in the winter, have at least one provided by the council.

Although there are salt bins on the estate, he added there is not enough to clear all the roads and as many others also need to use it the grit depletes quickly.

The train control room manager explained: “Other parts of the estate have salt bins and there used to be one in Chevening Close which was removed by the council 20 years ago and never replaced.

“The road is a downhill slope with an adverse camber and winding bends which means vehicles drift off course and cannot stop at the end of the road before sliding onto the main road.

“I think the council needs to reevaluate its strict criteria because it is not fit for purpose.”

The unitary authority rules state to request a salt bin the road must have a gradient of more than two degrees, at least one bend, moderate traffic, more than 20 houses requiring access in and out of the road, and a large number of disabled or elderly people living in the area.

It must also not be near a primary or secondary “salting route”.

In emails seen by KentOnline, council officers state Chevening Close does not meet the criteria as it does not have a severe bend in which visibility is not clear and has a junction with a secondary salting route.

Stuart Bradley, who has lived on the road for 26 years, is one of the 30 residents in their close, who has chipped in to buy the salt bin.

The 61-year-old said: “For this area in Walderslade, people do not understand we are on a hill. It is really bad because of all the hills.

“It is hard enough to get off your driveway let alone the cul-de-sac. When it snows it is a definite problem up here, you are just stuck.

“I have never understood why we do not have one. It would have been useful.”

As records do not go back as far as 20 years, it is not known if the previous salt bin in Chevening Close belonged to Medway Council or why it was removed.

Medway Council declined to provide any further comment.