New gritting plan to keep roads ice free

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PIONEERING new technology is set to be used to improve the gritting of roads across the county this winter.

Worcestershire County Council's fleet of 31 vehicles are to become one of the first in the UK to be equipped with specialist tanks which will cover the salt with a brine water solution before it is sprayed onto icy roads.

It works faster than dry rock salt alone, which also requires traffic to drive over it to help break down ice, and helps ensure more grit stays on the road rather than bouncing off it.

The method was pioneered in Europe and its introduction follows a successful trial last year, which the council say saved £40,000 in salt stocks.

Gritters went on standby on Monday (October 15) and will be ready for action until mid-April if temperatures dip below freezing.

Around 13,000 tonnes of grit has been stocked in depots across Worcestershire and all of the county's 1,233 grit bins have been filled in an effort to combat the effects of any bad weather.

Coun John Smith, responsible for highways and transport on the county council, said: "Our gritters are ready to go for another winter and this time all of our fleet are equipped with the latest technology, tried and tested successfully last season - that will make the hard work of the teams even better.

"We all appreciate the fantastic effort of the crews, who last winter clocked up 49,500 miles. Most of the times we are tucked up in our beds when they are busy out and about on our roads when temperature gauges dip. As always, I'm sure they'll do us all proud once again."

He added grit was not a 'miracle fix' so drivers should still be cautious on roads, even when they had been treated.

Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting or log on to www.twitter.com/worcscc for more information.

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