Highland Council declares it is ready for winter as cold snap hits
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Highland Council has declared it is ready for winter – and has been gritting council roads and pavements in line with its winter maintenance programme.
With many people affected this week by slippery pavements and roads as temperatures plummeted, all eyes are on the local authority which has a priority treatment list that it adheres to.
The region's trunk roads are the responsibility of Transport Scotland and its operator Bear Scotland.
Council roads are gritted according to priority routes approved by councillors at area committees. Gritting is on weekdays Mondays to Fridays from between 6am and 9pm.
A council spokeswoman said treatment after 6pm is generally restricted to "primary" routes only.
She said: "On Saturdays and Sundays, the weekend service covers primary, strategic secondary and difficult ‘other’ routes between 6am and 9pm. Treatment after 6pm is also generally restricted to primary routes only.
"The council has adequate salt stocks for the region using around 50,000 tonnes in the winter. There are no concerns about future provision of deliveries from the council’s supplier."
The winter fleet includes 105 gritters, 42 footpath tractors, two snowblowers and more than 200 staff providing winter maintenance services.
Councillor Allan Henderson, chairman of the council’s communities and place committee, said: “We have supplies and resources in place to provide a winter service this year on Highland Council roads and pavements according to council policy.
“The council will continue to do what it can within its resources and policy, however I would encourage communities to come forward and apply for winter resilience assistance from the council that will provide them with salt in grit bins or heaps and other equipment to take action in their local areas that are important to them.”
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