Communities urged to ‘apply now’ for winter resilience aid.

Gritting routes image

Highland Council is urging community groups to ‘apply now’ for its Winter Resilience Programme if they want grit bins in their local communities.

The Highland Council’s winter service starts today (Tuesday 14 October) and the Council is ready to treat - according to its policy - the 6,787km of roads for which it has responsibility.

Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “We have supplies and resources in place to provide a winter service according to Council policy. 

“Winter gritting services will be provided when required, and when weather conditions allow, Monday to Sunday, starting at 6am until 9pm, on a priority basis. There is no overnight service. On days classed as public holidays a restricted service is provided which starts at 7am.

“We will continue to do what we can within our resources and policy however, I would encourage communities to come forward and apply now for winter resilience assistance from the Council that will provide them with salt in grit bins or heaps and other equipment to take action in their local areas that are important to them.”

Community groups, volunteer groups and individuals who require further information or are wanting to access the Winter Resilience Programme can contact their Area Roads Office by email. Information is on the Council’s website.

The Council can confirm it has adequate salt stocks for the region of approximately 35,000 tonnes for the start of the main winter season and that there are no concerns about future provision of deliveries from the council’s supplier. Our winter resources include fleet with over 100 gritters, footpath tractors and more than 200 staff.

Cllr Gowans added a warning. He said: “Salting will not prevent roads from icing up in extreme sub-zero conditions. This is particularly relevant on low traffic roads where there are insufficient vehicle movements to aid the interaction between the salt and the ice crystals, so we urge drivers to be extra careful driving in these conditions.”

•  Drivers should take account of prevailing weather and road conditions.
• Winter weather conditions within the Highlands can be very localised.
• Black ice can be a particular danger. You cannot see it and it can still be there even after treatment.
• Dawn frosts can also catch drivers unaware. At first light a clear sky will allow heat to radiate quickly from the road surface causing icy patches to form on wet or damp roads.

Area Winter Service Plans are set by Area Committees within Council strategy and budget allocated by the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. 

Trunk roads in Highland are the responsibility of Transport Scotland and their operators Bear Scotland and AMEY.

For more information check out our webpage Ready For Winter