Cold snap prompts Highland Council gritter deployment in Ross-shire ward
DRIVERS using the road network in one of Highland Council’s largest wards are being advised to be on guard for slippery surfaces after a “cold snap”.
Highland Council’s morning roads report - based on feedback from across the area from gritter crews and other operatives - says gritters are out covering all main roads in the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh ward.
The report states: “Another cold snap across the Ward 5 road network.Gritters are out, covering all main roads. There are no known hazards and all roads currently open to all vehicles.
“There were no reported overnight winter issues, and the treatments are presently ongoing.”
Maps and further details of the priority treatment routes can be found online here.
The council maintains a fleet of 105 gritters, 42 pavement gritters and one snowblower.
Across the Highlands there are over 1750 grit bins.
Over a typical winter around 50,000 tonnes of salt will be spread on the road.
In 2018, its Winter Service Policy was approved by committee and remains in place.
The cost of providing this service reflects the fact that it has to treat the longest local road network of any council in Scotland.
Although expenditure varies according to the severity of the winter the local authority would expect to spend in the region of £5 million annually.
