Following reports suggesting that Britain is about to suffer its coldest winter in 50 years, Nottinghamshire gritters could be seen out on the streets as early as next month.
The county council’s gritting teams will go on low-risk standby on October 1st with full 24/7 standby coming into force on November 1st – or even earlier if required.
Looking to avoid salt shortages that have occurred in past winters, the council’s four salt barns are already full to the brim with rock salt.
Garry Chadburn, winter maintenance manager at the county council said: “Salt restocks have been completed to our 20,000 tonne capacity; gritters have been serviced and overhauled and driver training has already begun.”
He also added: “Checking and refilling of the 1,300 roadside grit bins for which the County Council is responsible has begun this week and deliveries of salt to parish councils are planned for November.”
Some reports have suggested that the coming winter will be the worst in 50 years due to the El Nino effect – the name given to describe an upwelling of warmer than average water in the Equatorial Pacific which is known to disrupt climate patterns around the world.
The last El Nino of 2009/10 brought exceptionally cold weather to the UK and the county council carried out 108 gritting runs.
“Like most people we keep our fingers crossed and hope that the coming winter won’t be too severe, but we have to be realistic and plan for the worst,” said Councillor Kevin Greaves, chairman of the council’s transport and highways committee.
“Our year-round preparations mean that we will be ready to act as soon as any bad weather arrives.”
