Royal Borough Offers Assurances Over Preparations For Snow

The Royal Borough council is saying we are doubly prepared for snow this winter with more than twice the supply of salt in store following the severe weather earlier this year.

With the council's winter maintenance programme ready to take to the roads from the end of the month (Friday 29 October), 1200 tonnes of salt are on order for the start of the winter season.

This compares with 550 tonnes ordered at the start of last winter, although a total of 2,000 tonnes were eventually used to cope with the extreme conditions at the beginning of the year. Further salt supplies will be ordered this winter as necessary in the event of similar severe weather

More than 400 tonnes are already stockpiled in the council's salt dome in Stafferton Way, Maidenhead, with the remainder expected in early November. The council's maintenance contractors, Balfour Beatty Workforce, will be on 24-hour standby until the end of March 2011.

Extra funding of £100,000 this year has enabled the highways team to buy additional equipment and salt for use in extreme weather conditions:

• new snow shovels and salt bins

• eight salt spreaders to distribute salt more efficiently on footways

• four smaller towable salt spreaders which can be fixed to the back of vans which can be used on smaller roads that are not on the primary and secondary gritting routes

• a fifth snow plough to target specific problem areas which are not covered on the primary and secondary gritting routes.

Parish councils, care homes, schools and residents' associations have also taken advantage of the council's offer to provide 35 salt bins in identified locations around the borough to keep footways clear - in addition to the more than 40 distinctive yellow highways salt bins already in use in previous years.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, said: "Residents told us loud and clear earlier this year that salt bins and snow ploughs were among their top priorities when we asked how they would like to see additional capital funding spent this year.

"So I am pleased that we have been allocated £100,000 from the participatory budgeting 'pot' to help fulfil those wishes. Now we are encouraging a self-help approach among residents by offering salt bins, shovels and spades to parish councils so that people can salt and clear footways and minor roads not included in the main gritting routes.

"It is vital that we encourage people to look out for each other during extreme weather conditions and ensure that salt supplies get to where they are most needed - particularly in areas where there are elderly and vulnerable people living.

"I am happy that we have been able to buy more essential equipment to help keep local community areas clear - which in turn allows us to prioritise the work of the gritters and larger snow ploughs to get on with the task of keeping the major routes open.

"The safety of our residents and visitors using our roads is of paramount importance to us and we are confident that we are well prepared to keep our roads clear in severe weather. But motorists need to help us by making sure their cars are ready for winter driving conditions too and by taking extra care in bad weather. Please drive with caution."

A leaflet detailing the annual gritting programme - including a map showing primary and secondary routes - is available at council offices in Maidenhead and Windsor, libraries, parish council offices and leisure centres and can be downloaded from the Royal Borough website at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/pe_winterservices.htm

The leaflet explains how, why, where and when roads are salted, as well as tips for keeping safe in hazardous conditions.