DIVERSIONS put in place due to a road closure in Bolton Abbey have caused difficulties for drivers in this week's snowy conditions.

They claim that the alternative routes have not been gritted despite the likelihood of additional traffic.

The problems have been caused by kerbing and drainage works being carried out from The Cavendish Pavilion entrance to Bolton Bridge bypass.

North Yorkshire County Council has signed a diversion, directing drivers up to Grassington. However, there is a shorter route via Eastby.

Yet despite the likelihood of increased traffic along this route the council has not gritted it during the poor weather conditions.

One Drebley resident, Cath Ayrton, said she accepted that roadworks needed to be carried out.

However, her acceptance turned to anger when she realised that she had driven through "absolutely lethal" black ice even though no work was being done at the site because all the workers had been put on gritting duties.

She said that most people who lived in the area were more likely to take the shorter route through Eastby and over Black Park to Barden.

"If they aren't going to be working they shouldn't be putting up diversions," she declared.

Pupils and parents travelling to Wharfedale's Montessori School - near Strid Wood between Bolton Abbey and Barden - have also been affected by the closure as drivers are having to travel around the diversion.

Divisional engineer for North Yorkshire County Council Richard Marr explained that when a road was closed the diversion needed to be of an equivalent class which was why the diversion took drivers through to Grassington.

He said the council appreciated that drivers would take the alternative route through to Eastby and he promised that the council would send gritters along this route during the road closure.

There were also complaints about the lack of gritting in Bradley.

Concerned resident Michael Whitaker told the Herald that in the 30 years he had lived in Bradley he had administered many cups of sweet tea to motorists who had had bumps on Crag Lane because of the weather.

"It is a very steep hill and over the years I have had cars coming down sideways and smashing into my parked car.

"I am very worried that someone could be killed on this road. It is absolutely scandalous that the most dangerous road into the village is never touched," he added.

Mr Whitaker said a gritter did come into Bradley, but it made a circle of the roads around the village and did not grit Crag Lane.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council's highways department said Crag Lane was a priority three road, which meant pre-snow treatment could not be carried out.

"The council policy is that priority three roads are not treated until the conditions have been in place for 72 hours and if we have then got the resources available."

The spokesman said there were salt bins in place which residents could use.