Torbay's gritters on bad weather standby
TOR2's fleet of gritters is on 24-hour standby in Torbay to drive into action when cold weather is forecast.
The council usually spends about £150,000 a year on winter maintenance, although the bill was higher in the last two winters when the weather was more severe.
-
Torbay's highway network covers a total of 555 kilometres, or 345 miles. When temperatures drop, TOR2 teams will take the gritters to the road to spread salt on 112 miles of priority routes.
These include A and B classified roads, strategic C classified routes, strategic bus routes, roads outside schools, routes servicing emergency service locations and other strategic distributor roads. However, not all roads will be treated.
Get £10 off any colour with Tarryn or Pip
Contact: 01271 440619
Valid until: Saturday, July 27 2013
Cllr Robert Excell, Executive Lead for Safer Communities and Transport, said: "The council and TOR2 work together to help keep traffic on the move during cold weather.
"The gritting teams will treat more than 100 miles of priority routes, but they cannot cover the entire network, so some residential streets and footpaths will not be treated.
"However, we have provided 140 gritbins in various locations right across the Bay to serve as a self-help facility.
"Residents are welcome to take small quantities of salt away from the bins and store it in a suitable container, such as a bucket or strong carrier bag, so they can use it on the public highway when it is needed."
Torbay Council's website, local radio stations and the council's Twitter and Facebook social network accounts will be used to inform people when the gritters are being sent out.
Residents should spread salt on their street and pavements before temperatures drop towards zero as this will help prevent ice forming.
Detailed safety advice for road users, including information on how residents should spread salt on local streets and pavements, can be found on the "Winter advice for residents" pages of the Torbay Council website
Comments