Road salting and snow clearing

Gritting information from Suffolk County Council March-April 2010:

The weather conditions this winter have been very challenging in terms of snow fall combined with the very cold temperatures and the length of time these conditions have prevailed. These conditions, together with the timing of these, have stretched our resources and have resulted in a number of issues.

Restriction of Salt Supplies

The timing and the severity of weather has depleted salt stocks across the country and these remain at a critical level. The delivery and distribution of salt is currently being directed by the 'Salt Cell' – which is comprised of the Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Department for Transport, Department for Communities and Local Government, Highways Agency and the Local Government Association. 

Suffolk is currently assessed as a high priority as determined by Salt Cell and we are receiving small, however, regular deliveries. 

All Highway Authorities are required to preserve salt and continue to treat only the highest priority roads. For the foreseeable future Suffolk County Council will only be able to use salt on our Priority 1 network, which includes all A and B roads, access to hospitals and fire stations. In the event of significant falls of snow we will use grit at difficult spots on the lower priority routes.

Self Help - Clearing pavements

There have been lengthy discussions in the media during this winter regarding individuals clearing the snow away from pavements in front of their homes or business and the issues of liabilities. It is hoped that these discussions do not deter the community sprit shown by people across Suffolk from carrying out this work in the future.

The latest advice from the Government states the following:
“Although, ultimately, it is for the courts to decide issues of liability, as long as the clearing of snow and ice does not make the situation more dangerous, then it is highly unlikely that any claim against people who did so, would be successful. All that is needed is a shovelful of table salt to prevent the formation of ice on the cleared area and a pinch of common sense” 

Potholes

The severe weather conditions, especially the exceptionally low temperatures, have caused serious damage to our roads. This has resulted in potholes and, in some cases, the road surface stripping off. The strength of our more minor roads will have been weakened and we will see the effect of that over the coming months.  We encourage the reporting of potholes, giving as much information about the size and location. We are responding as quickly as we can and are having to do a temporary repair at this stage, dealing with more serious potholes first to ensure the roads remain in a safe condition. At the end of the winter we will go back and repair the road surface in advance of the annual surface dressing programme.


Suffolk County Council (SCC) has a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a road is not endangered by snow or ice.  To comply with our duty as Highway Authority for county council roads, we spread salt and clear snow.  There are practical limitations to what can be achieved, and priority is given to areas of highest potential risk.  The first priority are the busiest roads.  After that we treat roads, pavements and cycle tracks according to a system of priorities based on usage.

Spreading salt on the roads helps prevent or remove ice.  When snow is more than 50mm deep, it needs to be mechanically removed by ploughing or digging.  Salt becomes less effective as temperatures reduce.  In exceptionally low temperatures, salt may have little or no effect and it may be necessary to spread grit to give more grip on the ice, rather than trying to melt it.

Where to grit?

Roads are salted and snow cleared according to a system of priorities:

  • Priority 1 – All A and B class roads, and the busiest bus and commuter routes on other roads. These are treated on any occasion ice or snow is forecast to be a hazard;
  • Priority 2 - Other significant bus routes and other commuter routes. Treated if snow or ice is forecast to persist for much of the day, or shorter term conditions will be severe, e.g. rain turning to ice;
  • Priority 3 – Other classified roads and busier unclassified roads.  Only treated in prolonged severe conditions as resources permit; and
  • Priority 4 – Remaining surfaced unclassified roads.  Treated in conditions of severe and prolonged snow, as resources permit. 
Suffolk Elgin
- view gritting and salting routes

To find out which roads fall into the above categories, please go to Suffolk Elgin.

  • Click on Map Roadworks, then click on the downward arrow next to the words "Zoom to".
  • Select one of the options Postcode, Street or Town - this will open another box where you can enter the information required for the option you have selected. 
  • A new box will appear headed "Map Layers and Legends" - in the folder headed "Highway Network" click on Salting routes. 
  • This will open another box showing Map Layer Information - click on the X in the top right corner to close this.  
  • The map will now display the gritting routes for roads maintained by the county council - those with purple lines down the centre of roads are Priority 1 routes; those with green lines down the centre of roads are Priority 2 routes.
  • By clicking on the coloured line along the route, another box will open giving the route name and the salting priority.

Making the decision to grit

During the winter months we receive a detailed local road surface weather forecast every day. Eight roadside weather stations measure road and air temperature, rainfall, wind speed and humidity.

We receive specialised winter weather forecasting service provided by Meteo Group Weather Centre on a daily basis. This predicts the possibility of freezing road temperatures, snow etc, and the time those conditions may occur.

Gritting the 1200 miles of Priority 1 routes takes 2.5 hours and costs £10,000. Keeping the county's roads safe is the priority, but we must also make sure the 38 gritters are not sent out needlessly.

In Ipswich salting and snow clearing is carried out for Suffolk County Council by Ipswich Borough Council (telephone: 01473 432727 or 433000).

Grit heaps

We provide roadside grit heaps on request from parish councils so local people can treat local trouble spots on minor roads, which otherwise would not be treated:

  • grit heaps/bins are generally placed in locations such as, the bottom of hills, junctions on minor roads which are on lower priority routes for gritting;
  • the grit from these heaps/bins must only be used on the public highway;
  • requests for heaps/bins are only accepted from a town or parish council; 
  • the location of the grit heaps/bins must be agreed by SCC;
  • SCC does not purchase the bins; these must be provided by the Town or Parish Council;
  • bins cost approximately between £150 and £450, depending on the type;
  • grit heaps/bins will be replenished at the start of the gritting season and afterwards on request by contacting CSD call centre 0845 606 6171. (Under normal circumstances it can take 2 weeks to top up heaps as it is normally uneconomic to top up one heap in isolation);
  • there is no charge for grit
  • Town and Parish Councils are responsible for keeping the list of volunteers to spread the grit;
  • named volunteers for spreading grit or clearing snow can be insured through the county council’s insurance.

Snow clearing

Snow can be cleared by ploughing, digging, or the use of specially designed snow blowers.

As well as using our own equipment, we can call over 200 farmers and contractors across the county to help with clearing snow.  Payment is only made to farmers and contractors who have a contract with us and are working on our instructions.

In severe snow conditions, we will carry out snow ploughing throughout the night to try to keep the most important roads passable. This is normally confined to the busier A class roads.

Pavements and cycle tracks

Pavements and cycle tracks are only normally treated in the event of snow. The following order of priority is used:

  • Priority 1 – Main shopping streets in town centres;
  • Priority 2 – Other town centre pavements and important cycle tracks;
  • Priority 3 – Pavements and important cycle tracks; and
  • Priority 4 – Residential areas.

For more information contact the Customer Service Centre.