Gritting and roads update – Wednesday 13 December 2017 (10am)

Since Thursday night (7 December) we have treated all main routes at least 15 times, most between 18-20 times. Secondary routes have all been treated, most between six and nine times. We have used 3,986 tonnes of salt through our main gritting fleet and well over 4,000 tonnes when you add in that supplied to, and used by, our farmers/contractors.

• All main routes are now open and largely free of snow and ice.
• The only closure currently is at Coundarbour, which is due to a vehicle striking a bridge and knocking the parapets into the brook. It will remain closed until temporary vehicle restraint systems are put in place.
• We are still experiencing problems with trees and that is likely to remain the case for the next few days. Trees have become damaged due to the weight of snow on them.
• We have teams out clearing footways and estate roads.
• Our farmers/contractors are out continuing to clear rural roads. All main link roads into rural communities have been treated. The problem with the minor network is that salt needs to be trafficked to be effective and where there are few vehicle movements it will take a while to work
• We are out replenishing salt bins and stocks to our farmer/contractors at the moment.