West Berkshire gritters ready to tackle winter roads

Usain Salt, Sir Gritalot, Melty Micky, and the rest of West Berkshire's 9-strong gritter fleet are prepped and ready for action as West Berkshire Council gears up for winter.

Test runs have been successfully completed to ensure all equipment is in top condition, and with 2,500 tonnes of salt stocked at the depot, our teams are fully prepared for whatever the weather brings.

Last winter, our gritters covered 11,515 miles, spreading over 2,600 tonnes of salt to keep the district's roads safe. Roads are salted when temperatures are near freezing, typically before the morning or evening rush hours, as these are peak times for frost and ice. Real-time data from weather stations across West Berkshire helps us forecast and deploy gritters efficiently, treating the most critical routes first.

Cllr Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Highways at West Berkshire Council, said:

"Our dedicated winter maintenance teams work tirelessly in all weathers to keep our roads safe. Preparations like test runs and having salt ready in stock are vital to ensure everything runs smoothly when temperatures drop. This is all part of our commitment to keeping West Berkshire moving through winter."

On average, it costs around £2,028 per precautionary treatment of West Berkshire's primary road network, using up to 42 tonnes of salt per run. While the main roads are treated as a priority, residents are reminded to take extra care on untreated routes and adjust their driving to road conditions.

In addition to gritting, we are leading a Berkshire-wide initiative with a £225k grant to install advanced thermal sensors on roads and vehicles. This technology will help make more accurate decisions about when and where to grit, reducing costs and cutting carbon emissions in future years.

Don't forget - over 446 salt bins, owned and maintained by Parish/Town Councils, are available across the district for residents to use on public roads and paths during icy conditions. The salt is not to be used on private properties i.e. for driveways or private footpaths. We only treat footways, including pavements and cycleways, in times of persistent ice or snow.

Let's work together to stay safe and keep West Berkshire moving this winter.