A PAIR of new grit bins will boost hundreds of householders in Lymebourne and Arcot Park when ice and snow chaos next strikes in Sidmouth.

Residents association leaders this week celebrated the end of a near three-year bid to land the salt storage boxes for their community.

County councillor Stuart Hughes forked out �600 from his locality budget for the bins.

An arrangement had to be struck with the district council so the containers could be placed on its land.

The bins, outside Lymebourne Community Centre and in Arcot Park, will be maintained by the authority.

Councillor Hughes told the Herald: “It’s been about three years, but all good things come to those who wait.

“This will enable people who were trapped in their estate roads last year to get out and about. Hopefully they will find them helpful if we get another severe weather event.

“It’s about making people more resilient against winter weather and enabling them to help themselves.”

John Fowler, Lymbourne and Arcot Park Residents Association chairman, added: “This will make a difference to residents and make it easier to move around.”

Cllr Hughes said new grit bins in Peaslands Road and Blackthorn Close, off Stowford Rise, would be installed in the near future.

He has secured 15 grit bins, at �300-a-pop, for the Sidmouth and Sidford area - with eleven of those provided in the last year.