'It isn’t possible to treat every road and path' warning as Ross-shire Highland Council ward gets ready for winter
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PUBLIC expectations are being managed ahead of winter amid warnings not all roads and paths in Ross-shire can be treated in severe conditions with available resources – and efforts to ensure communities are as self-resilient as possible.
The Winter Maintenance Plan for Dingwall & Seaforth this coming winter 2023/24 was approved by members of the area committee last week.
Area committee chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie, said: “We are all aware that winter within the ward can be challenging, so it’s important we put plans in place early to ensure the gritting policy, winter maintenance team and the equipment and supplies required are in place and ready to be implemented when the winter weather arrives.
“The Highland Council has an approved list of priority routes for treatment and would encourage the public to familiarise themselves with the gritting maps for the area specific to them.”
He added: “It isn’t possible to treat every road and path; however, the dedicated team work tirelessly to best meet the needs of the area.”
Cllr MacKenzie added: “We continue to encourage ‘community self-help’, under the Council’s ‘Winter Resilience’ scheme, where communities can submit applications via their community council to carry out footway gritting operations.”
Applications for the winter resilience scheme can be made on the website.
The council says it will continue to provide the community with salt/grit, bins, scrapers and reflective waistcoats. It is important to note that this does not replace the service provided by the council but allows the community to provide an enhanced level of service.
The report presented to members illustrates the current position regarding the delivery of the Highland Council winter service for 2023/24.
The plan explains that primary routes are treated first, followed by secondary routes and then all ‘other’ routes as resources permit.
Councillors noted the priorities, timings and resources available for gritting the Dingwall & Seaforth area network of Primary 35km (27 per cent); Secondary 58km (45 per cent) and Other 35km (28 per cent).
The council’s winter service policy is in place to ensure a consistent level of service between areas and to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of drivers and pedestrians. However, the operation of that policy "does not, and cannot, ensure that every road and footway will be free of ice or snow at all times".
All operations begin at 6am and can continue to 9pm. Saturday and Sunday operations also begin at 6am and treat primary routes, strategic secondary routes excluding school transport routes and difficult other routes.
The routes covered during snow conditions may be restricted to the primary network.Treatments consist of the application of pure salt or occasionally salt/sand mix and where required blading or ploughing snow from the road surface. A spread rate for salt application has been agreed by council, dependant on weather conditions.
While the resources set out above will deal with the majority of winter events, there may be occasions, for example periods of heavy prolonged snowfall, when additional resources are required. To help deal with these situations, local contractors are available who can supply equipment and operators to assist in clearing deep snow at short notice.
The council publishes “Winter Services” leaflets for each operational area providing the public with information on snow clearing and gritting of Council roads along with maps showing the priority attributed to individual roads.
The leaflets and Policy information are provided on the “Winter Road Maintenance” pages on the Council’s web site at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20005/roads_and_pavements/107/winter_road_maintenance/2
Highland Council briefing and winter tips
Primary (Highest) – Treated from 6am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, generally covering all the A class roads and some B class and including main commuter routes in the larger urban areas.
Secondary - Treated mostly after the primary network has been completed between 6am and 6pm Monday to Saturday and covering roads which in general connect smaller communities to the primary network. On bus routes, gritting will not necessarily be completed before buses start their journeys.
Other - These are minor rural and local access and residential roads. We will treat these roads as resources become available.
Salting will not prevent roads from icing up in extreme conditions. This is particularly relevant on low traffic roads where there are insufficient vehicle movements to aid the interaction between the salt and the ice crystals.
Drivers should take account of prevailing weather and road conditions.
Winter weather conditions within the Highlands can be very localised.
Black ice can be a particular danger. You cannot see it and it can still be there even after treatment.
Dawn frosts can also catch drivers unaware. At first light a clear sky will allow heat to radiate quickly from the road surface causing icy patches to form on wet or damp roads.
Prepare your vehicle:
Make sure your vehicle is fit for the journey
Top up the windscreen-washer
Check that all your lights are working – remember ‘it’s not to see, but to be seen’
Check your tyre pressures and tread depths
Consider the benefits of fitting winter tyres, particularly if you are driving in rural areas
Prepare for frost by keeping a de-icer spray and scraper in the car. Prepare yourself
Prepare yourself:
Take a blanket or extra warm clothing
Take a flask with a hot drink and some food
Take a torch, boots and a shovel
