Gritting team thanked after a busy winter keeping Shropshire’s road safe

Councillor Dean Carroll with some of the gritter drivers based at the council’s Whittington depot

Shropshire’s gritter drivers have been thanked for their efforts keeping the county’s roads safe last winter, following the end of the 2021/22 gritting season.

The team – who work for Shropshire’s Council’s contractor Kier – has been officially ‘stood down’ now that the risk of sub-zero road temperatures is over.

Since October 2021, the council’s 25 gritters carried out 76 gritting runs, spreading 9,077 tonnes of salt on 61,276 miles of road across the county – the equivalent of two and a half times around the world!

The gritters and their drivers were often out late at night, or in the early hours of the morning, helping to keep the roads safe for all road users.

Dean Carroll, Cabinet member for highways. said

“Fortunately we didn’t experience a particularly harsh winter, but our teams were out on many occasions, working around the clock to help keep the county’s roads safe.

“Often working late at night, early in the morning, on weekends, and sometimes on bank holidays, we may not see them, but they’re out there, and we’re very grateful that they are. That’s why I want to say a big thank you to all of our gritter drivers and crews for their fantastic work over the past few months.

“This winter, closer working with Kier also reduced operational downtime by 50% and meant we were able to provide a better, more consistent service”

Over the summer, work will be carried out to ensure vehicles and drivers are ready for next winter. Gritters will be serviced and maintained, drivers will receive training, and salt supplies will be restocked at the council’s highways depots.

Drivers will also be busy with their ‘day job’ maintaining and improving the county’s roads.

A wider review of the council’s winter maintenance service is currently underway.

Shropshire Council has launched a new initiative supporting all Shropshire schools to maintain footpaths close to their schools free, by providing salt and salt spreaders. Information is available by emailing  schoolsaltsupport@shropshire.gov.uk

For more information on gritting routes and grit bins click here.