Gritters Out Again Tackling Snow on Roads Across Borough
While bin collections resume but team catching up after suspension
The council said yesterday that it had four tonnes of grit ready to spread on the roads.
The council adds that as more snow is due today, Friday 2 March, and it is expected to remain bitterly cold, it is asking residents to please wrap up warm and take extra care when travelling.
The council has three levels of priority when dealing with snow in the borough.
On its page about cold weather, ice and snow, it says: "We will be gritting the roads to keep the priority routes clear, however residential roads will only be gritted should snow fall and settle over a number of days.
" In freezing temperatures we spread a mixture of grit and salt on roads and pavements, which improves your grip and melts ice.
" Every day we get a specialised weather forecast from MeteoGroup Ltd. This predicts the possibility of freezing road temperatures and snow, and when these conditions may occur. If we receive such a warning, we grit the roads..
" From the time we call out our gritting lorries, Priority 1 routes will be treated within 2 hours, Priority 2 routes within 4 hours and Priority 3 routes within 48 hours.
" First we will grit the borough’s busiest roads, including those with bus routes or a high risk of accidents in freezing conditions. The three levels of priority are:
Priority 1 - Strategic routes, principal roads, important classified roads and bus routes
Priority 2 - All other classified roads, important unclassified roads and bus routes
Priority 3 - During long periods of lying ice or snow, minor access roads in hilly or exposed locations, and sometimes important footway routes, will be treated
"We'll only consider Priority 3 routes during severe conditions, when all other priorities have been fully treated and resources become available."
- Map of priority gritting - roads (pdf 3.2MB)
- Map of priority clearing and gritting - footways (pdf 3.2MB)
If you have any questions about gritting or snow clearance, please email highwaysgeneral@lbhf.gov.uk.
The council adds that grit becomes much less effective below -5°C, so it will continue to monitor temperatures and spread accordingly.
Meanwhile bin collections have resumed after being suspended due to the bad weather.
The council says: " Waste and recycling collections will continue today, but are running behind schedule following Wednesday’s suspension of services. Please put out your waste as normal and it will be collected, though some collections may be delayed by 24hrs.
"We expect services to return to normal by lunchtime on Saturday (3 March)."
March 2, 2018