Winter Gritting Service 

Some points about our gritting service.

Overview

The Council has started preparing operational winter gritting service for 2016/17.

Gritting operations are reviewed annually to ensure they reflect the current needs of the borough. Routes are based on local knowledge and identifying susceptible roads by temperature mapping.  A flexible approach to gritting is always taken when predicted weather patterns may only affect certain areas or high or wet-spot roads.

The Winter Maintenance Strategy and Plan can be viewed on the Council website: www.stockport.gov.uk/gritting.

Key facts and figures

The borough’s stock levels of rock salt are over 4,000 tonnes. (Salt used during the winter of 2015/16 was approximately 2006 tonnes with 55 gritting operations). Salt levels are closely monitored and maintained throughout the winter period.

When the gritting fleet is deployed, it covers approximately 450 km of Stockport’s road network and approximately 100 staff from Solutions SK are available 24/7 in order to respond to routine and/or exceptional weather conditions.

Winter Gritting Routes

Roads included on the gritting schedule are prioritised to maintain the optimum level of traffic flow along major routes first. Operational priorities continue to be:

1. Priority routes 1 – 10 (‘A’ class roads and other strategic routes)

Priority routes 1-5 will receive priority gritting within 2 hours. Priority routes 6-10 will receive gritting when priority routes 1-5 have been completed, within 5 hours.

2. Designated footways to be treated before 9.00 am.

3. Tertiary Routes (key residential area feeder roads including bus routes)

Treated as required, where resources permit, and after other routes have been effectively treated.

The Council uses predicted weather conditions from the Met Office to decide on appropriate actions and levels of priority to deal with specific reports on both borough wide and local issues.  If severe weather is forecast, additional priority is given to those areas of highway & footway having steep gradients, schools, train & bus stations, hospitals & town, district and local centres.

Self-serve – How residents can help

Additionally, grit bins are placed and stocked at agreed locations across the borough. These are replenished when necessary throughout the winter period so that local residents can treat local roads and pavements.  It is not for use on residents’ driveways.  Salt stolen from grit bins for personal use should be reported to the police.

Un-adopted roads will not be gritted and private land is the responsibility of the landowner.

All the gritting routes and grit bin locations can be found at: www.stockport.gov.uk/gritting

Council Reputation

Residents are kept informed about the winter gritting service via the Council’s website and local media. Communications promote the work being done to keep Stockport moving in the winter months. The transport and streets webpages on the Council’s website includes information on winter gritting, street lighting and highway maintenance. Also available are tips on clearing snow and ice from pavements or public spaces to help residents make informed decisions and advice on travelling safely during the winter period.

Find out more

Forecast monthly weather warnings are available from the Met Office online: www.metoffice.gov.uk