Gritters out in force as big freeze arrives

The county’s 49-strong fleet is ready to be called into action to grit the roads ahead of a cold period predicted for the whole week.

County Coun John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our gritters have been out less than 10 times so far this winter, but we understand from the Met Office that the long range forecast from now on is for the kind of weather we’d usually expect at this time of year.

“We’re as ready as we can be for whatever the weather throws at us with over 30,000 tonnes of salt in stock and 49 gritters ready to go from nine depots around the county.”

Some 1,500 miles of road are gritted every run.