Pembrokeshire CC's cabinet has rejected a suggestion that 'localism' could improve winter gritting of rural roads.

Backbench councillor, Bob Kilmister, called for a review of gritting arrangements, possibly in partnership with local farmers and community councils. He said: 'Localism might be able to provide a possible solution.'

Lack of gritting had affected businesses in his ward in recent winters, with two large dairy farms discarding uncollected milk. He suggested community councils - the equivalent to parish councils - could organise gritting of badly-affected areas by volunteers, mostly farmers.

But Ian Westley, director of transportation and environment, said: 'The idea of a community partnership would lead to an increase in the amount of salt needed, which, in a climate of increasing demands on a finite supply, would be difficult to fulfill without significant additional funding and availability of the product.

'While there should not be significant issues related to liability and insurance, the carrying out of operations by local community groups is not considered to be an effective or efficient deployment of resources, due to concerns over appropriate storage systems, effective and efficient spreading of salt, and the potential lack of general, overall control of winter-maintenance operations.'

The authority already worked with community councils to improve delivery of winter maintenance - filling community grit bins which smaller councils could use in areas of local concern.

Meanwhile, a Conwy CBC scrutiny committee is recommending that recycling boxes should become household rock-salt receptacles when no longer needed for recyclate. Town and community councils would buy salt, at bulk discounts, and sell it cheaply to householders. The committee also wants stickers placed on the authority's salt bins telling the public that the contents are not for personal use, and says the council should advise the public where they can buy rock salt in early autumn.