Gritters out night and day but weather is set to turn wetter
GRITTERS were out yesterday across Staffordshire as the roads remained treacherous after the snowfall.
Staffordshire County Council said its gritting teams had been out treating both the main network twice and the wider network overnight after snow left many roads impassable. Freezing temperatures meant the snow was still badly affecting roads yesterday.
On higher ground, temperatures plunged to lower than –7oc, with crews working around the clock in the challenging conditions to help keep key routes open for people who need to travel, a council spokesman said.
Motorists who do need to travel during the current lockdown, are being reminded to take extra care and allow extra time for their journeys as the grit will need time for traffic to travel over it for it to be most effective in breaking up ice and snow, he said.
David Williams, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our crews have been working non-stop since last night, working in extremely difficult conditions and sub-zero temperatures to help people who need to be out to get to where they need to be this morning.
“Our crews are still out today, so our message is very much if you really do need to travel please take extra care and drive to the conditions.”
Users of 3,000 grit bins and salt piles in the county are also being reminded “a little goes a long way”, as wintry weather is expected to return soon.
Most of the bins are restocked regularly while others in quieter locations are filled in autumn with enough for the winter season, the council said.
Councillor Williams said: “The grit bins are there to be used when the weather turns bad, but we know that often people aren’t sure how much to
scatter so they err on the side of caution and put down far more than is needed.
“Depending on the severity of the conditions, anywhere between 10 and 20 grammes of scattered grit is enough for one square metre of road. If people have trouble visualising how much grit to use, imagine that the equivalent of a one kilogramme bag of sugar could cover at least 50 square metres of road – which is about the same as four parking spaces.”
Grit bins and salt piles are placed at potentially dangerous locations, such as fast roads, hills and bends.
Councillor Williams said: “A little goes a long way and what we do have is earmarked for the highway, not people’s driveways.
“We do have enough to help keep Staffordshire’s roads safe, but stocks will be used up far more quickly if people decide to take a little extra for themselves.”
Salt and grit work by creating a solution that lowers the freezing point of water, but it is triggered by being crushed by wheels or underfoot.
Derbyshire County Council has said its gritting teams were still out trying to clear primary and secondary routes as quickly as possible in South Derbyshire but asked people not to attempt to travel unless the journey is essential.
The Met Office has said that snow will start disappearing from today as showers hit the region and temperatures rise a little.
A spokesman for the Met Office said clouds will develop during the early hours and it will remain cold and frosty with a minimum temperature of -4°C.
The prediction for the rest of the week is warmer temperatures and plenty of rain. This, coupled with snow melt water, could see already high river levels rising again and the return of the threat of flooding across the area.