Sefton Council’s gritting teams have been out on the roads for the first time this winter, following a drop in road temperatures below freezing.
The council’s fleet of 10 gritters has already completed two treatments of more than 290 miles (470km) of roads across the borough, after Met Office forecasts warned of freezing road temperatures during recent foggy conditions.
The vehicles, each weighing 18 tonnes, cover key routes across Sefton, including major roads, bus routes and access roads to hospitals.
Every time the full fleet heads out, the combined distance covered is equivalent to travelling from Bootle to Inverness.
Sefton Prepared for Winter with 3,500 Tonnes of Grit Salt
With colder weather approaching, Sefton Council has stocked more than 3,500 tonnes of grit salt at its purpose-built Winter Hub in Netherton.
The facility helps ensure gritting teams have the supplies needed to respond quickly when temperatures fall.
During last winter, the council’s gritters were deployed 40 times, covering almost 11,700 miles in total. Pavements and footways were also treated on 16 occasions during particularly cold weather.
A cold spell in January saw the fleet deployed 11 times over just three days, using approximately 640 tonnes of grit salt.
Weather Conditions Monitored Around the Clock
Between November and March, Sefton Council monitors weather conditions 24 hours a day to determine when gritting is required.
Duty officers use Met Office forecasts alongside actual road temperatures to decide when teams should be deployed.
Road temperatures can fall below freezing even when the air temperature remains above zero. Factors such as fog, humidity and wind can all affect conditions at road level.
Council teams remain on standby throughout the winter, including over Christmas and New Year, to respond whenever necessary.
Council Teams Ready to Keep Sefton Moving
Councillor Phil Hart, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways, highlighted the preparation involved in keeping roads safe during winter, said:
“We spend each year making sure we are ready for gritting, and lots goes on behind the scenes to keep Sefton moving in cold weather.
“This includes regular deliveries to restock our Winter Hub, with trucks bringing in around 30 tonnes of grit salt at a time.
“Our staff are now on standby, monitoring temperatures and weather ready to press go when the road temperatures drop below freezing, like they have this week as fog has caused road temperatures to drop.”
Grit salt works by lowering the freezing point of water, helping to prevent ice from forming on road surfaces.
It becomes more effective as passing vehicles spread the salt across the road, meaning busier routes often clear more quickly.
However, motorists are still encouraged to take extra care when travelling in icy conditions, particularly during the early morning.
Councillor Hart added:
“Our teams’ work to make sure our streets are safe, typically takes place overnight and in the very early hours while most of us are tucked up in bed, which is why people often don’t seem them.
“We’re ready for whatever winter throws at us, and residents can be confident that our teams are on hand to help keep Sefton moving safely when temperatures fall.”
Find Out Which Roads Are Gritted in Sefton
Residents can check which roads are included in Sefton Council’s winter gritting programme, along with further information about how the service operates.
Full details and gritting route maps are available at www.sefton.gov.uk/gritting
