Wiltshire Council's winter maintenance teams are getting ready for the winter weather over the coming months

Published 24 October 2024

Wiltshire Council's winter maintenance teams are getting ready for the winter weather over the coming months.

Residents of Wiltshire can expect appearances from Thaw Enforcement, Usain Salt, Sir David Attenburrrr and the rest of the gritting crew, which will be out and about on test runs over the coming weeks before minus temperatures set in. Test runs are an opportunity to make sure all equipment is working as it should, and it also allows the crews to familiarise themselves with the routes.

Last winter, the crews were deployed 46 times and distributed 5,000 tonnes of salt, with 34,500 miles of Wiltshire's roads treated. Equipment is normally deployed when the road temperatures require them, with salting taking place whenever road temperatures near freezing.

Salt is usually spread on roads after the evening peak of traffic or before the morning rush, as late evening and early morning are the most likely times that frost and ice affect road surfaces.

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, said: "We have a fleet of 24 gritters on standby, strategically placed in depots around Wiltshire - ready to take action.

"When the weather drops below zero, we focus on A and B roads as these are primary routes. However, we want to remind residents to not assume that a road has been gritted, and to always drive to the conditions as some roads are only treated during prolonged periods of cold weather.

"A commitment in our Business Plan is to have well-connected communities and preparing for the colder months is a part of this, as we want to keep everything running smoothly while prioritising safety.

"I'd like to thank our dedicated highways team who treat our roads in all-weather throughout the winter to keep our residents and road users safe."

The council has 12,000 tonnes of salt in stock, placed throughout the county in six storage sites. Weather stations positioned in key areas across the county will closely monitor the weather 24/7, providing real-time information to help engineers produce accurate forecasts, ensuring the gritters are sent out at the right time.

Footways (including pavements, cycle routes and cycleways) are only treated in times of persistent ice or snow, with a focus on footways with high pedestrian usage. The council maintains more than 1,600 salt bins located throughout the county, which are available for both residents and the travelling public for use on public roads and footpaths.

During winter, people can follow the council's social media accounts for regular updates on the weather and road conditions: OurWiltshire and Wiltscouncil

People report any winter road or salt bin issues under the weather emergency section of the MyWilts online reporting service.

Topics:

• Highways and transport news

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