West Dunbartonshire Council has been slammed for failing to grit roads and pavements after the first icy blast of the winter last Tuesday.

Complaints flooded in from dozens of people who claimed they had witnessed car crashes or had slipped and fallen on un-treated pavements on the morning of December 4.

Residents in Bonhill said the area was badly affected with children and older people sliding and falling on the icy pavements, while pupils at Balloch Primary were reportedly being dropped off on the main road at Jamestown because the car park and drop off area had been closed due to the ice.

There were also claims that Bellsmyre Campus was ‘like an ice rink’, Bellsmyre Nursery was slippery, the high school car park was covered in ice, a young boy fell outside St Peter’s Primary and hurt his back, and an elderly woman fell in Brucehill along with many schoolchildren on their walk to school in the morning.

Complaints were also made about Haldane, with concerns expressed about whether the elderly residents would be able to go out.

Commenting on the council’s Facebook page, Rachel Boag said: “Bellsmyre campus was like an ice rink this morning, and high school car park was extremely dangerous to drive and walk around.

“But the roads getting to and from school were clear.”

Kate Gallacher Healey said: “Pavements are treacherous, children falling going to school.”

Karen Randall added: “Why are roads and pavements not gritted? Very dangerous - two cars have crashed into each other outside a school.

John-Paul Johnstone said: “Need to get the pavements and road sorted in Brucehill, a wee old woman fell about 20 minutes ago and my kids fell on way to school.”

West Dunbartonshire Council said: “We had staff out gritting roads and pavements in West Dunbartonshire from 3.30pm on Monday afternoon and then re-treated them from 5am on Tuesday.

“Our priority is to treat the busiest roads in our area first and when this is complete we treat secondary roads as well as the entrances to public buildings.”

“Pavements and footpaths continue to be treated during working hours.”

“During the coming months we would encourage residents who are able to make use of the grit bins which are stocked and available for residents to grit their own areas and that of elderly or infirm neighbours.”