Secondary roads gritted every ‘four-five days’ during cold snap

Powys County Council have defended their gritting strategy as the cold snap continues to prove challenging for its fleet, and they have highlighted the massive challenge they face.

It’s nearly a week since the temperatures plummeted with the council stressing it is providing a 24/7 service to keep us on the move, with the main roads remaining a priority.

In response to some readers complaining of a slow response at the start of the cold snap causing problems prior to the weekend, with roads covered in ice, the authority told us that the service is activated “on detailed forecast and data from temperature sensors”, which “influence the decisions made to plough and grit the roads of Powys as necessary”.

Powys County Council has 1,400km of primary routes to cover which it has been gritting twice, and, sometimes, three times a day but the secondary routes are only being visited every four-five days.

“Since the temperature started to drop at the end of December, priority road gritting has taken place twice a day for main routes and facilities,” a spokesperson told us.

“Secondary gritting is done every four-five days during sustained cold periods and last performed on January 5 (yesterday).”

There has also been criticism in Guilsfield of a lack of salt bins in place, particularly with three new housing estates built since last winter, but the spokesperson told us that readers can check their nearest through https://en.powys.gov.uk/saltbins, which contains a link to request a refill.

The village's county councillor, Cllr Ian Harrison, blamed "bad planning" for the initial response after he was contacted by angry residents.

The spokesperson also pointed out that gritting crews were also busy treating footways within town centres, outside schools, care homes and medical centres.

Here’s what the lead councillor responsible has said this morning in a statement:

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys:

“Our highways crews are working around the clock in all conditions to treat and clear the county’s main roads as well as gritting paths in our town centres and outside vital amenities like schools and medical facilities.

“As well as our fleet of gritters treating the main routes, there are nearly 3,300 salt bins located across the county to help communities treat local roads and pavements. These bins are placed where gritters can’t reach - steep hills, narrow access, rural spots, shared spaces, etc. You can check the salt bin locations and request any refills online.

“Whilst weather conditions remain cold, please take care when outside and allow extra time for journeys and take note of any advice given by the Met Office, police or the council.”