The salt storage facilities run by Bath & North East Somerset Council are now at capacity in preparation for another tough winter on the area’s roads, with 1,300 tonnes ready for spreading by the nine-strong fleet of gritting vehicles.
Over 38% of the road network is salted by the Council, totalling 263 miles of highway which is 8% higher than the national average, supplemented with over 400 grit bins also available for the public to access salt.
In the event of snowfall the Council re-deploys staff to assist with snow clearing and can operate the gritting fleet around the clock to ensure the maximum levels of support is given to residential and business communities across the district.
Councillor Tim Warren (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of Council, said: “We are committed to making it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to get around our area, whatever the weather.
“The Council continues to work hard at improving our resilience and ability to deal with flooding, strong winds or icy conditions. Over the last few months, Bath & North East Somerset Council has been busy preparing for a harsh winter.
“Our gritting fleet has been serviced and tested ready for the coming winter, and our teams have been out in the community refilling the 400 plus grit bins at the side of the road.
“We’re also very grateful to members of the Council’s Snow Warden Scheme, the initiative encouraging people to volunteer to help clear snow and ice the Council can’t get to.”
A substantial amount of information is available on the Council’s website www.bathnes.gov.uk/gritting – including a winter advice leaflet offering tips on dealing with severe winter weather on highways and pavements.
This includes Government guidance on householders clearing snow and ice outside their home.
Councillor Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The Council is well prepared to ensure our priority routes are gritted so that people can get around the road network as safely as possible.
“Our gritting fleet is using some of the most advanced technology available to control the rates at which we spread salt. Combined with around the clock access to real time weather stations and weather forecasting this enables a team of people to conduct gritting runs when they are needed and ensure we don’t waste any road salt.”
During any severe winter weather, the Council provides regular updates about the status of its services via www.twitter.com/bathnes.
