Warning for more snow and ice
RESIDENTS and businesses are being urged to be prepared for more cold weather this week following a Met Office warning of continuing freezing conditions.
Snow has already led to disruption of services at several recycling and household waste sites.
Residents are being urged to check the council’s website before travelling for their appointment.
Gritters were out and about across the county over the weekend and again this week to treat key routes and keep the county moving.
Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We start preparing for the winter weather in the summer so by the time we need to send our gritters out we are fully stocked up on salt and ready to tackle anything.
“We monitor the weather constantly and have teams across the county on call to grit whenever is needed.
“At the moment, the lower traffic levels propose a unique challenge for our gritters as friction caused by the passage of vehicles on the grit is essential to complete the de-icing process.”
Motorists who are making essential journeys this week are being advised to drive carefully as roads still may be icy and to check the council’s gritting routes before they lset out.
The council does not grit every road – you can check if your journey is gritted online at: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/winter-weather/ gritting-and-travel-this-winter.
The council has five gritting depos across the county, with 23 gritters, and the 17 routes they follow cover 1,300 miles of the county which makes up 47% of the county’s road network. Since November the gritters have been out 54 times. This year, the council’s grit barns are stocked up with 18,000 tonnes of rock salt, ready to tackle the worst of the winter weather.
Community snow wardens also do their bit by gritting paths – and local farmers help out by fitting snow ploughs to their tractors and helping the council to clear roads where necessary. Residents are also reminded to check on vulnerable neighbours, family and friends during the wintry conditions.
For more information on staying well this winter you can visit: www.leicestershire.gov. uk/winter-weather/stay-well-this-winter