Wiltshire Council’s fleet of gritters is being readied for action as the county prepares for colder weather.
Over the coming weeks, the council’s highways teams will be out on test runs to make sure every vehicle and driver is ready before the first frost arrives. The dry runs help crews familiarise themselves with their routes and check that all the equipment is in good working order.
Last winter saw the fleet called out 50 times, spreading around 6,500 tonnes of salt on Wiltshire’s main roads. Gritting usually happens late at night or in the early hours, when falling temperatures are most likely to cause frost or ice to form.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said the teams are once again on standby: “Our drivers work tirelessly, often through the night, to keep Wiltshire’s roads safe. While we’re well prepared, we’d still urge everyone to take extra care in icy conditions — allow more time for your journey and drive according to the weather.”
The council currently has 12,000 tonnes of salt stored across six depots around the county, ready to be used as needed. A network of weather stations provides round-the-clock data, helping engineers decide when and where the gritters should go out.
More than 1,600 salt bins are also in place for residents to use on public roads and footpaths. Anyone who spots a problem with a road or salt bin can report it through the MyWilts online reporting service under the weather emergency section.
For local updates on gritting and road conditions this winter, residents can follow @WiltsCouncil and @OurWiltshire on social media, or sign up to the council’s email newsletters.