Wiltshire gritters forced to cut back over salt shortage (From This Is Wiltshire)

Wiltshire gritters forced to cut back over salt shortage

5:03pm Thursday 5th February 2009

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The shortage of salt has forced Wiltshire County Council to cut back on gritting roads as the county prepares for more snowfall tonight.

The council has had up to 40 vehicles ploughing, salting and gritting the primary road network over the past week. It has scattered enough grit to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Swindon Borough Council has also said it will cut back on gritting.

A county council spokesman said: "The advice for the public is not to travel unless absolutely necessary and assume that roads have not been treated."

The extended spell of cold weather has depleted the county’s salt supplies to such an extent that only strategic routes in the county will be salted over the next few days.

During the recent cold spell around 2,000 tonnes of salt have been used.

However, Devon County Council has offered 500 tonnes of salt to Wiltshire, and once the salt is in the county the strategy will be reviewed.

From tonight the council will only be salting the following roads, however it cannot be assumed these roads will not be hazardous:

A429 from Poole Keynes to M4

A350 from A4 to the county border

A30 from the county border to Wilton and on to the county border

A338 from the county border to Easton Royal

A3102 from M4 to Calne

A4 across the whole county

A346 from M4 to Burbage

A345 from Salisbury to Amesbury

A360 from Stonehenge to Devizes

A361 from Southwick to the Beckhampton roundabout

A4361 from the Beckhampton roundabout to Wroughton

A map of these routes will be available via the link on the right.

The county council has been informed no further deliveries of salt into Wiltshire can be guaranteed in the immediate future as salt stocks nationally are under pressure.

No other routes will be salted and salt bins will not be replenished until we have fresh supplies.

The county council is also making arrangements to ensure care will be maintained to the most vulnerable people in the community.

Schools will make the decision on whether or not to open early tomorrow morning, but parents and carers are advised to check the local radio stations as closures are likely.

Bus and rail operators will make their own decisions locally, so passengers should check if their service is operating before leaving home.

Keith Robinson, chief executive at Wiltshire County Council, said: “This decision will enable us to make best use of the limited salt we have in stock by using it only to treat most vital roads in the county.

“I would urge people to think twice before travelling and to listen to local news bulletins for updates.

“For now, we are doing all we can to keep the county moving by reducing our gritting programme and preserving the stock we have left, and I would particularly like to pay tribute to the staff who have been working round the clock.”

For further information, and for helpful tips on driving in wintry conditions visit the council's web site via the link on the right.

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