West Hill will still take part in the ‘snow warden’ scheme this winter despite Ottery Town Council opting out.

County councillor Roger Giles has promised to spend several hundred pounds from his ‘locality budget’ to purchase a towable grit spreader to be used in the village.

In November the town council had rejected calls to take part in the county-wide scheme, saying they didn’t see any benefit for the town and citing logistical issues over where to store and how to distribute the grit they would receive.

But West Hill Residents Association (WHRA) said it would like to take part independently, and a resident has volunteered to be a ‘snow warden’ and grit routes in West Hill not covered by council spreaders.

Devon County Council offered every parish and town council the chance to be involved, and will provide up to five tonnes of salt for those who sign up, such as Sidmouth.

Each parish must have designated ‘snow wardens’, volunteers who are given training by the council, who then grit their local public roads and footpaths.

The WHRA request to take part has been accepted, and Cllr Giles has agreed to fund a grit spreader which can be towed by an off-road vehicle.