Back on the road: Wiltshire’s gritters return ahead of winter weather

As temperatures begin to drop, Wiltshire Council’s highways teams are gearing up for the colder months with the return of the county’s 24-strong gritter fleet.

The gritting crew will be out on test runs over the coming weeks before minus temperatures set in. Test runs are an opportunity to make sure all equipment is working as it should, and it also allows the crews to familiarise themselves with the routes.

Last winter, the crews were deployed 50 times and spread 6,500 tonnes of salt on the primary routes across Wiltshire. 

Salt is usually spread on roads in the late evening and early morning as these are the most likely times that frost and ice affect road surfaces. 

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Our fleet of 24 gritters and drivers are always on standby, ready to treat primary routes across Wiltshire and help keep our roads safe throughout the colder months.

“I’d like to thank our incredible gritting crews who work tirelessly, often through the night, to keep Wiltshire’s roads safe during the winter months.

“While our teams are fully prepared, we still urge all drivers to take extra care on the roads during cold and icy conditions. Please allow extra time for journeys and drive to the conditions to help keep everyone safe.

“I’d also urge people to keep an eye on our social media channels and sign to our newsletters, as these will help our residents to stay up-to-date with the latest situation in the event of bad weather.”

The council has 12,000 tonnes of salt in stock, placed throughout the county in six storage sites. Weather stations positioned in key areas across the county will closely monitor the weather 24/7, providing real-time information to help engineers produce accurate forecasts, ensuring the gritters are sent out at the right time.

The council maintains 1,600 salt bins located throughout the county, which are available for both residents and the travelling public for use on public roads and footpaths.

During winter, people should follow the council's social media accounts and sign up for its newsletters for regular updates on the weather and road conditions: OurWiltshire and Wiltscouncil.

People can report any winter road or salt bin issues under the weather emergency section of the MyWilts online reporting service.