Gritting season is on its way
From Friday, October 7, Telford & Wrekin Council’s fleet of gritters were put on standby, but there is no need to expect icy weather just yet.
Keeping Telford moving and ensuring roads and neighbourhoods are safe in winter is a monumental task and for our Highways team Balfour Beatty, the council’s highways contractor is gearing up for whatever the winter brings this year.
Practice gritting runs started on Friday to ensure all teams are set for periods of cold weather and snow.
Gritter crews and decision makers from our highways team will be ready around the clock to cover over 280 miles of roads, bus routes and access roads for emergency services, schools, industrial estates and villages - a network agreed with the community that’s almost as far as the distance to Penzance in Cornwall!
We are also supported by a number of the council’s volunteer Snow Wardens and a fleet of local farmers, who help keep our roads clear during periods of heavy snow.
Smaller roads and footpaths in local estates and villages are covered by the council’s volunteer Snow Wardens. They play an active role in their local areas supporting neighbours and more vulnerable residents by salting and clearing paths and pavements of snow and ice when the weather takes a turn. For more information, visit the webpage to find out how to sign up as a volunteer Snow Warden.
Councillor Lee Carter, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, Regeneration and the High Street said: “October is the beginning of our winter season, and we make sure our gritters are ready, our salt stocks in the depots are high and that our 700-plus grit bins are topped up before freezing weather arrives. Our crews will be on standby 24 hours a day until April, ready to deal with whatever the weather throws at us.
“We don’t know how much, if any, snow and ice we’ll see this winter, but I am confident that our highways teams are ready, and we will do everything we can to keep the roads open and safe, whatever the weather.”
For more information about Telford and Wrekin Council’s winter service programme, including the routes that are gritted, visit the website here or for advice on how to prepare your vehicle for winter click here.
