Information on Loughborough

Cabinet expresses gritting concerns

Posted on 13/01/2010

Leicestershire Councty Council Cabinet Office

12 January 2010

Cabinet expresses gritting concerns

The County Council has urged the Government to let it continue to grit 45 per cent of roads in Leicestershire, despite a national shortage of salt.

Leicestershire County Council’s ruling Cabinet received an emergency update on the gritting situation today (Tuesday 12th), amid Government calls for councils to conserve salt stocks.

Cabinet members were concerned that the Government wants councils to reduce salt usage by 25 per cent, to conserve salt stocks and release some to other areas – and that further requests from the Government to reduce salting were not ruled out.

Although a number of councils across the country have run short of salt and cut back on gritting operations, Leicestershire has been able to meet its target of gritting 45 per cent of roads, as it had stocked up sufficiently last year. Leicestershire’s gritters have been operating every day for the last three weeks.

Lesley Pendleton, Cabinet member for highways, said: “We’re not facing the same problems as other areas, as we have managed our salt stock well. We are continuing to grit 45 per cent of the network for the time being but are reducing salt use by around 25 per cent, by re-stocking with a mixture of sand and grit.

“We are currently considering our options for how we might further meet the Government’s appeals to reduce salt usage. However, the Council is intent on keeping the road network in Leicestershire as safe as possible under the current difficult weather conditions and circumstances.”

Background:

Leicestershire's barns were stocked up at the start of the winter to ensure there was enough salt to last through the season. There is enough stock to last through the rest of this month, even if the cold snap continues.

When ice is forecast, 45% of the road network is treated including most A roads, some B and C class roads, major commuter and bus routes and as far as is possible, at least one route through all villages.

Leaflets showing the gritting routes can be downloaded from the County Council's website at www.leics.gov.uk/winterdriving and are available from local libraries or Council Offices or by calling 0116 306 0001.

The County Council has 17 gritters which ordinarily spread roughly 150 tonnes of salt each gritting run, covering 1,200 miles of highway.