Wiltshire Council gritters to head out across the county

These test runs allow the winter maintenance team to ensure all equipment is working properly and to familiarise themselves with the routes.

The council has said that residents can expect appearances from vehicles named Thaw Enforcement, Usain Salt, and Sir David Attenburrrr.

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Warminster salt depot. (Image: Wiltshire Council) According to Wiltshire Council, last winter, the crews were deployed 46 times and distributed 5,000 tonnes of salt, treating 34,500 miles of Wiltshire’s roads.

Equipment is normally deployed for salting whenever road temperatures near freezing.

Salt is usually spread on roads after the evening peak of traffic or before the morning rush, as late evening and early morning are the most likely times that frost and ice affect road surfaces.

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Cllr Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways and street scene, said: “We have a fleet of 24 gritters on standby, strategically placed in depots around Wiltshire – ready to take action.

“When the weather drops below zero, we focus on A and B roads as these are primary routes.

“However, we want to remind residents to not assume that a road has been gritted, and to always drive to the conditions as some roads are only treated during prolonged periods of cold weather.

“A commitment in our Business Plan is to have well-connected communities and preparing for the colder months is a part of this, as we want to keep everything running smoothly while prioritising safety. 

“I’d like to thank our dedicated highways team who treat our roads in all-weather throughout the winter to keep our residents and road users safe.”

The council has 12,000 tonnes of salt in stock, placed throughout the county in six storage sites.

Weather stations are positioned in key areas across the county and 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.

Footways are only treated in times of persistent ice or snow, with a focus on footways with high pedestrian usage.

There are over 1,600 council-maintained salt bins located throughout the county, which are available for use on public roads and footpaths.

Wiltshire Council recently warned that it expects a rise in the number of reported potholes as the winter draws in.

It noted that the increase is of a cyclical nature and occurs during the transition from autumn to winter.