The long, hot, dry summer may only just have departed but East Sussex County Council already has one eye on the winter.
Basil Salty, Ctrl Salt Delete, and David Plowie are among a fleet of gritters ready to roll when temperatures plummet as East Sussex Highways launches its winter service.
With 10,000 tonnes of rock salt stockpiled, 21 gritters – including some named by schoolchildren across the county, are ready to hit the highway and treat more than 750 miles of the county’s roads.
Between now and the end of April, the council says it will be keeping a close eye on special weather forecasts and data from five roadside weather stations to determine when and where the gritters will be deployed, whilst live information from GPS-tracked vehicles will help fine-tune the team’s response 24 hours a day.
Cllr Peter Griffiths, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “Keeping the county moving during cold spells is no mean feat and a great deal of planning goes into preparing for the winter.
“At the end of September our highways teams carried out Operation Snowdrop, a crucial part of the planning process which includes ensuring all vehicles, ploughs and spreading equipment are working correctly, checking gritting routes, and inspecting and refilling more than 900 Highway-owned grit bins and tubes.
“Snow and ice on the road can pose a real danger to motorists and can bring the county to a standstill so it’s vital that we are ready to act when winter weather hits.”
Last winter, 4,001 tonnes of salt was used on 38 gritter runs which covered all A and B roads in the county and some C roads.
Cllr Griffiths added: “With our highways teams ready to mobilise, I would encourage motorists to prepare themselves for winter and potential emergency situations.
“Wear weather-appropriate clothing, chuck your Wellies in the boot, and make sure you have winter essentials such as de-icer, a shovel, a blanket and a fully charged mobile phone.”
More information on East Sussex Highways Winter Service and safety advice can be found at https://live.eastsussexhighways.com/services/services-winter-service