Cheshire East Council’s highways teams are geared up for winter

Cheshire East Council’s highways teams are fully prepared to keep the borough’s road open and safe ahead of winter.

A fleet of 21 new gritters will be on standby around the clock following a significant investment in vehicles. They contain innovative technology to make them safer, more efficient and produce lower emissions.

Salt stocks have been replenished ready to treat Cheshire East’s road network. Gritting routes are planned and include the high-level roads to the east of the borough, where snow and ice tend to have the most severe impact in extremely cold weather.

Weather conditions are monitored closely and the gritting team will treat up to 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) of road when wintry conditions are forecast, in order to keep key routes and services running as normal.

The gritters, which feature location trackers enabling members of the public to track them live online, will be on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week from October until the end of April.

Paul Traynor, head of highways at Cheshire East Council, said: “Our winter season can stretch over a six-month period, so it was vital that our gritters are ready and our salt stocks remain high.

“Winter weather can be extremely unpredictable, so we monitor the weather forecast closely to ensure that our gritting routes are treated at the right time. We also urge residents to take great care when driving or walking when it’s icy or snowing.

“Although we treat nearly half of Cheshire East’s road network, we cannot ensure that all roads will be completely clear of snow or ice, so please take care – especially on untreated roads.”

Residents can keep up to date with gritting decisions by following the @CECHighways twitter account. Cheshire East’s gritting vehicles can also be tracked as they treat the network at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways

Further information about Cheshire East Council’s winter service and guidance on travelling during winter can be found at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways

Cheshire East Highways can also be contacted on 0300 123 5020.