Stockport Council’s gritting crews are keeping Stockport moving.

The first grit of the season was on 5th November, Since then we have gritted on 22 separate occasions at various levels-from targeting individual locations to a full borough wide grit of the Priority Routes, using around 500 tonnes of grit.

Stockport has sufficient supply of rock salt. During last winter over 2440 tonnes of rock salt was used during 55 gritting operations. Salt levels are closely monitored and maintained throughout the winter.

The gritting fleet covers up to 450 km of Stockport’s road network depending on road conditions and approximately 100 staff from Solutions SK are available 24/7 in order to respond to routine or exceptional weather conditions.

Roads included on the gritting schedule are prioritised to maintain the optimum level of traffic flow along major routes first. Operational priorities continue to be:

1. Priority routes 1 – 10 (‘A’ class roads and other strategic routes)
2. Designated footways
3. Tertiary Routes (key residential area feeder roads including bus routes)
The Council uses predicted weather conditions from the Met Office to decide on appropriate actions.

If severe weather is forecast, additional priority is given to those areas of road & footway having steep gradients, or provide access to schools, train & bus stations, hospitals & town, district and local centres.

Additionally, grit bins are placed and stocked at agreed locations across the borough. These are replenished when necessary throughout the winter period so that local residents can treat local roads and pavements. It is not for use on residents’ driveways. People taking salt from grit bins for personal use should be reported to the police.
 
Un-adopted roads will not be gritted and private land is the responsibility of the landowner.
 
All the gritting routes and grit bin locations can be found at: www.stockport.gov.uk/gritting

Councillor Sheila Bailey, Executive member for Communities and Housing said:

“The Council’s gritting crews are on full alert and have already been called out 22 times this winter to help keep Stockport moving. Residents can keep fully informed by visiting the Council’s gritting webpages to access vital information during the winter.

A decision on where and when to grit is made shortly after each weather forecast. Footpaths are dealt with on a priority basis – with schools, public transport, stations, hospitals and retail centres being considered as main routes.  The preparations in place are aimed at ensuring that Stockport residents can continue to move safely around the Borough throughout poor weather conditions”.