gritter

WINTER maintenance teams in Telford have had their quietest season since 2006, with gritters being sent out less than half as much as last year.

So spare a thought for the team of gritters, who are based at the Ainley Top gritting depot, just yards from the M62, and who do their best to make sure it doesn't happen - very often.

Each winner received a certificate, a book voucher, and a chance to sit in the new gritters. The schools also received a book voucher.

Renfrewshire's newly-named gritters are on the web - as well as the road - as part of a drive to highlight the work of dedicated council staff.

Cardiff council has no plans at this time to reimburse volunteers for clearing the roads but said: "Salt bins are strategically placed around the city to enable self-help by residents and highway users." Merthyr Tydfil council has 2,000 tonnes of salt available and will have three gritters with snow ploughs, one van gritter and two tractors in operation.

When driving near a gritter on the motorway Gary advises motorists to give gritters a wide a birth as possible and to stay behind them until they've completed the treatment.

NORTHUMBERLAND County Council has had to hire six gritters after the delivery of new vehicles was delayed.

MELTING roads have forced councils to send out gritters to try to keep surfaces intact.

Gritters are being deployed as the UKheatwavemelts roads with surface temperatures hitting 50degrees.

Council chiefs have deployed gritters to stop roads MELTING during the heatwave

Now the internal auditors have confirmed that deeper consideration of exactly where and how often gritters have been used seems to have been long overdue.