Priority gritting map unveiled

MAPS have been published showing the top priority gritting routes that would still be treated if the weather deteriorated before the Government allows an increase in salt supplies to Norfolk.

MAPS have been published showing the top priority gritting routes that would still be treated if the weather deteriorated before the Government allows an increase in salt supplies to Norfolk.

The government has asked councils to cut the amount of road salt they use by 50pc, compared to last week.

At the moment, stock conservation measures taken by Norfolk County Council are already achieving this reduction while continuing to treat 1,900 miles of priority 1 and 2 routes.

These measures have included:

Reducing the number of salting runs and carefully timed those that do take place

Cutting back the spreading rate of salt from the levels used last week

Switching to sand for treating icy pavements and for restocking grit bins.

Given the recent easing in the freezing weather, these measures have cut salt use by 50pc without any reduction in mileage regularly treated.

However, another bout of severe winter weather with heavy snowfall would force the council to switch to treating around 1,000 miles of top priority routes only.

These would include all county A roads and most B roads, but would not include some of the access roads into villages that have been regularly treated over the winter so far.

The map is available on the county council's website by visiting http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/article/ncc048987.pdf.