Council prepared for cold weather

THE council’s gritting teams will be out again tonight as temperatures continue to plummet.

The latest weather forecast for Carmarthenshire shows freezing conditions with road surface temperatures as low as -8°C.

Motorists are being warned to drive with care, particularly on untreated roads.

Sleet and snow showers are expected this afternoon and tonight, mostly in the west of the county, with possible accumulations of between 1 and 2cm in some places by Friday morning.

The weekend and early next week is expected to be very cold for the time of year with road surface temperatures well below freezing by night and some areas remaining below zero by day. Some wintry showers are possible although early indications show no significant amounts of snow expected at this stage.

The council’s gritting teams have been out every night this week and looking at the forecast will continue gritting for at least the next five days. Staff are on standby 24-hours, seven-days-a-week during the winter months.

The council is well prepared for this winter and has increased its salt stock to over 12,000 tonnes with a further 5,500 tonnes on order – more than triple the recommended contingency arrangements.

Trunk and principal routes are given priority; this includes roads leading to hospitals, ambulance stations, fire stations, railway stations, bus garages, important bus routes, slip roads and known trouble spots. Secondary priority is given to shopping streets, other trouble and accident spots and other bus routes.

There are also 1100 grit bins in strategic locations across the county to help treat local roads and pavements. However, the public are being reminded that these grit bins should not be used to grit private driveways or footpaths.

Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “We have carried out a review of our winter maintenance plan this year and a number of actions have been taken as a result of this. Although we do not know exactly what the weather will bring yet, the last two winters have seen prolonged periods of ice and snow and it seems likely that we are looking at the same again this year.”

Executive board member for technical services Councillor Philip Hughes added: “We do all we can to keep the roads safe during the winter, however, motorists should be mindful of the road conditions and drive accordingly.”

Winter driving advice:

• Drive carefully, with smooth, gentle application of accelerator, steering and, particularly, brakes. If the vehicle starts to skid, gently lift off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid. 
• Be aware of black ice.
• If the road has not been gritted, be wary of driving in the wheeltracks of other vehicles as compressed snow is likely to be more icy than undisturbed snow.
• Allow plenty of time for your journey and make sure you have a full tank of fuel. Try to avoid travelling at dusk or in the dark.
• Watch your speed and remember that cyclists and pedestrians, as well as other vehicles, will be less visible.
• Make sure all the windows are clear of snow, properly de-iced and de-misted before you set out.
• Make sure that the windscreen washer bottle is topped up, and contains the correct ratio of screenwash to ensure maximum cleaning and to prevent it freezing.
• Make sure you carry a spade, wellies and a torch with spare batteries and a mobile phone that is fully charged. Keep a bottle of water and high-energy food, such as chocolate, in case you break down or become stranded. Carry extra clothing, including a warm coat, gloves and hat. A high-visibility jacket is also recommended.