Information on Loughborough

Keeping Charnwood Roads Open This Winter

Posted on 06/11/2007
P. Klein

6th November 2007

snow covered roads near LoughboroughChildren are being asked to help name Leicestershires gritters which are ready to treat the County roads whenever freezing conditions or snow are forecast.

The team of gritters is visiting schools tomorrow to coincide with Road Safety Week. The children will be able to see how they work and have the chance to think up a name for some of the fleet vehicles. In a cold winter, frost and ice usually appear across the whole surface of a road. During milder winters, cold, damp parts of roads freeze, while other parts of the road remain ice-free. Braking distances can be up to 10 times longer in icy conditions.

In these winter conditions, the County Council aims to ensure the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the road network and minimise any delays and accidents caused to road users.

On an annual basis between 1st October and 30th April, experienced staff monitor the weather conditions, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  They receive daily weather forecasts and updates as necessary, which are linked to the County Councils 6 weather stations.

Nicholas Rushton, Deputy Leader of the County Council with responsibility for Highways, said: "Leicestershire County Council carries out precautionary salting of 45% of the road network during winter, which is above average for the midland counties. During severe weather, this is backed up by other equipment including farmers tractors fitted with snow ploughs. To supplement these efforts, drivers are warned never to assume that any road is completely ice free during winter.

If the decision to salt the roads is taken, 17 gritters spread salt on about 45% (1,930km or 1,200miles) of Leicestershires roads. The roads that are salted are A roads, some B and C class roads, major commuter and bus routes and, as far as possible, at least one route into all County villages. During heavy snow, the County Council also has 54 snow ploughs which are fitted to the fleet of gritters and construction vehicles

To report a problem on Leicestershires roads, pavements or streetlights please call 0800 62 62 03. The Winter Salting Routes leaflet can be downloaded from www.leics.gov.uk/winterdriving or a copy can be obtained from local libraries or Council Offices.

Further  Information:

  • Up to 12,000 tonnes of salt can be used in Leicestershire; this is the same amount of salt as you would find in 30 million bags of crisps.
  • 1930km or 1200miles of road are salted " thats the same distance as going from here to Rome.
  • There are 23 gritters covering 17 routes and 54 snowploughs.
  • There are 100 drivers qualified to drive the gritters.
  • 50 farmers help out by taking the snowploughs out on their vehicles.
  • Salting needs to be carried out before the roads get icy to be effective
  • The council spends £250,000 on salt each year.
  • One round of salting uses 140 tonnes salt, and costs £9,700.
  • Salt does not act immediately. It needs the action of traffic to turn salt and ice into a solution before it becomes effective.