Residents are being reassured that grit supplies remain in place and gritting operations are continuing across the city, despite challenging winter conditions and false claims circulating online.
Council teams have carried out particularly intense gritting operations over the weekend and into the start of this week, responding to icy conditions and ongoing snowfall. Eight gritter vehicles have completed multiple runs across prescribed routes, each covering around 210 miles per run. In just 24 hours, around 350 tonnes of salt were used, with a total of 2,940 miles covered since Sunday.
Severe Weather Forecast
The council says the city is now facing the most severe snowfall in a decade. Forecasts from the Met Office suggest:
- Snowfall: Up to 3.5 inches expected.
- Temperatures: Drops as low as minus 4 degrees Celsius from Thursday into Friday morning.
In response, teams are carefully managing salt stocks to ensure gritting can continue where it is needed most. A further 600 tonnes of salt is due to be delivered across Wednesday and Thursday to replenish supplies and allow full operations to continue, including the refilling of community grit bins.
Addressing Misinformation
The council has moved to address misinformation, making it clear that reports suggesting salt supplies have run out are incorrect. Officials say winter preparations began with sufficient stock in place and that supplies are routinely topped up in line with forecasts and operational demand.
Operational Priorities
As conditions evolve, resources are being prioritized to keep the city moving. The focus remains on strategic routes, including:
- Main roads
- Bus routes
- Emergency access roads
Residents are reminded that gritter routes are designed to treat these priority areas. Community grit bins are provided to help treat public pavements, footpaths, and roads, but should not be used on private driveways or land to ensure they remain available for shared public use.
Gritting operations will continue in full, guided by weather forecasts. People are being urged to take extra care when traveling during icy weather and to keep an eye on council updates for the latest information.
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