Winter is coming: Councils prepare for deep freeze with 1.4 million tonnes of salt at the ready

Councils are preparing for a period of plummeting temperatures, with 1.4 million tonnes of salt stockpiled across the country ready to treat icy roads and pavements.

The Local Government Association’s (LGA) annual weather resilience survey found that on average local areas had eight gritting lorries as well as quad bikes, tractors and snow blowers on standby for difficult conditions.

The Met Office has predicted a cold snap later this week, issuing a Level 3 cold weather alert along with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Sleet, snow and icy conditions are expected particularly in the north and east of England. 

95 per cent of councils have the same amount of salt stockpiled as they did for last winter, with over half of authorities also sharing their salt stocks with neighbouring councils.

The survey of 38 local authorities across the country also found that:

• There is a lack of HGV drivers this winter, with 63 per cent of councils finding it difficult to recruit and retain drivers. Councils are using agency workers or retraining and redeploying existing staff in order to tackle these shortages.
  
• The cost of salt has increased, with some councils reporting that the cost of buying in new salt is 10 per cent higher than it was last year due to the impact of inflation.
  
• Nearly eight in 10 councils were using GPS systems to speed up the deployment of salt on roads, with two thirds equipping street cleaners with salt to spread on pavements.

However, it hasn’t just been this cold snap where councils have had to deploy their gritting fleets to protect local roads. During the record breaking heatwave earlier this summer, nearly half (43 per cent) of all councils had to use their gritting fleets to treat roads to prevent them from melting and becoming damaged from the effects of the heat.  

The LGA is calling for long term funding for road repairs so councils can meet these unexpected weather challenges, whilst also tackling a nine year long road repair backlog.

Cllr David Renard, LGA Transport spokesperson said:

“As temperatures start to plummet, councils are ready to work around the clock to grit roads and pavements to make sure that people are kept safe and local communities can get out and about.

“Councils have stockpiled millions of tonnes of salt and are using new and innovative technologies where they can to ensure those areas that are most treacherous are kept clear and safe for use.

“During these cold spells, it is the elderly or those who have a respiratory disease who are more at risk of ill health and in need of more support. As some people may choose to limit their heating use due to the impact of rising energy bills, it is all the more important that people check up on those that may need more help. It could help save lives.”

Case studies:

East Sussex County Council:

The councils’ gritting fleet of 21 vehicles is being run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), limiting its environmental impact and helping to tackle the climate emergency.

Sunderland City Council:

The council has stockpiled 13,500 tonnes of salt as well as installing temperature sensors on key routes in the city to improve information about road surface temperatures.

Cambridgeshire County Council:

The authority is working hard to ensure cycle routes are kept clear of ice, with 50km of cycle routes in Cambridge being treated by two quad bikes to ensure cyclists can still get out and about in the city safely.