Wiltshire gritters ready for winter weather

Wiltshire Council’s fleet of 24 gritters is on standby as preparations are under way for winter weather.

Last winter, gritting teams were called out 41 times, spreading around 4,500 tonnes of salt and treating approximately 31,000 miles of road across the county.

The council has around 11,500 tonnes of salt stored across six locations, ready to be used when temperatures are forecast to approach or fall below freezing.

The council says roads are treated using detailed weather forecasts, which provide information about roadside temperatures across the county. Salting is typically carried out after the evening peak or before the morning commute, when frost and ice are most likely to form.

Because of the size of Wiltshire’s road network, the council says it is not practical to treat every road. The council prioritises key routes, including A and B roads and other important local roads, with the aim that most residents are within a reasonable distance of a treated route.

Councillor Ian Thorn, leader of Wiltshire Council, said, “We have 24 gritters at strategic depots around the county, ready to respond whenever conditions require it.

“Our priority is to keep Wiltshire’s key routes safe and usable during winter weather. When temperatures drop below freezing, we concentrate on major A and B roads first because they carry the highest volumes of traffic.

“However, residents should remember that many minor roads are not routinely salted. People should never assume a road has been treated and should always drive according to the conditions. Some roads are only salted during extended periods of severe winter weather.”

Residents may spot gritters carrying out pre-winter test runs in the coming weeks. The runs help ensure vehicles and spreading equipment are working correctly and allow drivers to refresh their knowledge of treatment routes.

Winter-related highways issues, including requests concerning salt bins, can be reported through the weather emergency section of MyWilts.

More information about gritting and snow clearance is available on the Wiltshire Council website.