Council reassures residents on salt stocks

CARMARTHENSHIRE has used just 25 per cent of its salt stock so far this winter – and further deliveries are on the way.

Council chiefs want to reassure residents that there is no cause for concern despite media reports of gritty supplies disappearing fast.

The council has increased its salt stocks this year to more than 12,000 tonnes – with a further 5,500 tonnes contingency stock expected by the end of the month.

It is recommended that local authorities hold enough salt to carry out six days of continuous gritting – that’s 5,500 tonnes for Carmarthenshire – which means we will have triple the contingency arrangements.

The council also received a delivery of salt – as part of its annual re-stock exercise – just yesterday.

Residents are therefore being urged not to panic.

Director of technical services Richard Workman said: “As a result of further stocks received this week, we have calculated that about 25 per cent of Carmarthenshire’s initial salt stock holding has been used to date to deal with the current spell of cold weather.

“However, despite having already used about 25 per cent of our stock so far, we are still currently holding a quantity of salt that is equivalent to what we started off with last winter. We are also expecting delivery of imported salt procured via the WLGA by the end of December and this will provide a further 45 per cent over and above our start of season stock holding to be used as a contingency stockpile.”

Carmarthenshire has 3,531km of roads and approximately 28 per cent are treated when weather conditions demand. Around 996km are salted within three hours of forecasted ice or snow.

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.

Staff are also on standby 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week to respond to the changing weather and road conditions.

Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “We want to reassure residents that there is no need to worry despite reports in the media. We are well prepared and do everything we can to keep the roads safe.”