County Council ready to roll out gritters in Cambridgeshire as temperatures drop

Cambridgeshire’s 26-strong fleet of gritters are due to return ready for the winter as the county council gears up for its annual campaign to help people stay safe in icy weather.

On October 25, the gritters are to arrive at the council’s four highway depots. The council has a seven year contract with ECON who supply the authority with brand new gritters each year from October through to April, saving £117,000 each year.

The gritters, along with two quad bikes, will then hit the county’s roads day or night, each able to carry between eight and 14 tonnes of salt and grit more than 40 miles of road.

There is also an army of more than 70 volunteers across Cambridgeshire from local communities and Parish Councils to help treat their local area when temperatures drop to freezing and below.

Richard Lumley, head of Highways for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We have geared up for winter and we want to remind all its residents and businesses to also be prepared. Ensure you know your gritted route to work in the event that it snows, ensure your vehicle is fit for driving in the winter conditions, and ensure you adapt your driving style to the conditions of the road.

“Even a treated road can be icy and this year there will be some roads that will not be treated, though they may have been in previous years. We would also like to thank all our community volunteers who help treat their local paths. During the cold winter months we would also encourage people to look after the elderly and vulnerable in particular and see how they can help their local community generally in the event of severe weather.”