THE gritting teams were out in force last night (Sunday) and will continue to be on standby to help keep Worcestershire moving this winter.
The county’s highways depots are stocked with 15,160 tonnes of salt, including a 5,000 tonne strategic reserve in the event of an unusually harsh winter.
With a fleet of 26 gritting vehicles, the teams are ready to cover Worcestershire’s 1000 miles of designated roads, including across Redditch.
Last winter, the teams clocked up more than 50,000 miles – equal to more than twice around the world.
Checks are also being made on the county’s 1,233 grit bins to ensure they are full. They are provided for use on the public highway only (including footways).
Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways, said: “Our gritting teams do a fantastic job in difficult conditions while most of us are asleep, to help keep the county’s roads open and safe in icy and snowy conditions.
“We encourage drivers not to take the work of the gritting teams for granted. Motorists should always drive safely and carefully, but especially in adverse weather conditions, even when roads have been treated.”
Residents can locate their nearest grit bin, via www.worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting and report any issues on the roads including their grit bins via www.worcestershire.gov.uk/reportit.
