GRITTERS were out earlier this week – but Jack Frost was playing havoc on the roads, thwarting efforts to keep them ice free.
Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday evenings fell well below freezing. Coupled with heavy rain last week, it was the perfect conditions for black ice across the borough.
Residents took to social media to report concerns about the roads, with incidents reported in Wargrave, Grazeley, and Barkham.
There was also particular concern raised about Crockhamwell Road in Woodley. Part of the Orange 13/14 route that links the town with Reading runs through this road, and there was a patch of black ice across the road where surface water gathers.
Cars were seen momentarily losing control as they went through it.
Wokingham Borough Council said that the cold conditions, which has continued across this week, meant drivers should be aware of the potential dangers.
Cllr Paul Fishwick, the executive member for highways, said: “The combination of the recent wet weather and the very low temperatures mean that drivers should take extra care when driving and not drive unless absolutely necessary.”
He also said the roads had been gritted according to its standard procedures.
“Our primary road network, on average 170 miles, was gritted starting at 7pm on Monday, January 16, and again overnight at 1am on Tuesday, January 17.
“Our standard practice is to only grit primary routes, due to limited resources. Because of the extreme cold weather we are experiencing, we gritted the secondary road network (an additional 60 miles of roads) after rush hour on January 17.
“Our winter maintenance plan has a set of criteria which determine which roads will be gritted and the times that this will be carried out. The plan is in line with those of other local authorities.
“Monday’s conditions were particularly difficult for our road network because of the wet and the cold, both of which make gritting less effective.
“If your journey is unavoidable we urge drivers to drive very carefully and be aware of road conditions.”
