Essex is ready to deal with icy road conditions this winter, with fresh supplies of salt and the county’s fleet of gritters on call round the clock to keep major roads clear.
The council has placed extra orders to ensure supplies are sufficient in the event of another harsh winter. The county’s 65 winter gritters are ready to mobilise, with 120 people on call over a 24 hour period.
The council is required to focus its gritting resources on major roads, which includes all A and B roads, access routes for emergency services, rural link roads and major public transport routes.
A total of 180 parish and town councils have signed up for the council’s new winter salt bag scheme, where a tonne of salt is provided to volunteers who spread it on particularly dangerous areas of their local roads.
Residents can clear their own local pavements and pathways, as long as they take a careful and common sense approach. All county council salt bins will contain salt to be used sparingly on the highways.
Cllr Tracey Chapman, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “Keeping the main Essex road network safe throughout winter is a top priority. We will be keeping our residents well informed with the latest information throughout winter, and are working in partnership with district and borough councils to provide the best service possible.”
Further information is available at www.essex.gov.uk/winter