Changes planned to keep roads open throughout winter

New machinery, including a snow blower at Blair Atholl and a brine saturator at Blairgowrie, will be in operation

A series of measures will be used by Perth and Kinross Council to keep roads open during the winter season.

It has invested in machinery and introduced new services to ensure there is minimal disruption and reduced risk to public safety.

The changes include introducing two additional night shifts, one in Crieff and one in Kinross, and a new “night control” to better monitor road conditions.

A brine saturator – brine has proven to be more effective than traditional salt – will be stationed in Blairgowrie and a snow blower will be introduced at Blair Atholl.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee heard details of the winter maintenance programme from Stuart D’All, deputy manager for the Perth and Kinross roads maintenance partnership.

He told councillors two new night shifts would prioritise ‘A’ roads in the area and revealed the council is keen for residents living in rural areas to use hand gritters.

“Training will be provided in how to use these,” he said.

“Evaluation and costing of the two new night shift routes, plus previous experience of operating the current night shift routes, has shown a small increase in operating costs.

“However, the benefits gained through working on the strategic road network overnight, especially during severe de-ice and snow events, offsets the costs through allowing resources to carry out treatments to the rest of the roads network more efficiently.”

Mr D’All said the council would use the Met Desk for information on weather across Perth and Kinross and would add the Blairgowrie footway route to the salting programme for the forthcoming winter.

Councillor Colin Stewart, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee, who approved the proposals, said: “I am delighted that we will be able to improve the service for our residents, as we all know the delays and potential dangers caused by lack of winter maintenance.

“I am also delighted that my team have been able to devise service improvements and provide a better service than in previous years.”

Councillor Ian Campbell, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, described the new winter maintenance programme as a “great result.”

“This is what we were elected to achieve,” he said.

The benefits gained through working on the strategic road network overnight ... offsets the costs through allowing resources to carry out treatments to the rest of the roads network more efficiently

Picture: PPA. Changes introduced by the council include two additional night shifts, one in Crieff and one in Kinross, to tackle snow and ice.