THE weather outside has been frightful, but Jack Frost hasn’t yet let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. If it happens, Wokingham Borough Council says it doesn’t show signs of stopping. Gritting that is.
It says the cold weather experienced before Christmas made it one of the coldest December periods since 2010.
Its crews were hitting the streets to ensure they were treated to keep them as safe as possible – and they’re ready to do the same if the sub-zero temperatures return.
It has around 1,500 tonnes of salt stored in its Toutley depot, and 170 miles of primary routes are treated. A further 60 miles of secondary routes receive a course and 94 miles of third-tier routes if conditions worsen. In all, five gritting lorries are on standby from November through to April, and operated by council contractor VolkerHighways.
The council says routes are cleared in descending order of priority, with the most used roads cleared first, and a full list of primary, secondary and third tier roads is on the council website.
“Our gritting service is in full swing after we’ve seen temperatures drop well below zero and had our first snow of the season,” said Cllr Paul Fishwick, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for active travel, transport and highways.
“Road users safety and keeping traffic moving are among the key priorities for our highways teams, and while people still need to be cautious and take appropriate measures to protect themselves and others, gritting the network helps us keep residents and visitors safe while out and about this winter.”
