Rotherham: Ready for winter

The winter salting programme carried out by the Council’s dedicated Highways team, ensures that over 300 miles of the town’s busiest roads, including all main bus routes, are treated with salt in advance of any forecast ice or snow.

Ten priority routes are salted as a precautionary measure before forecast ice or snow occurs which takes up to three hour to complete.

Once traffic on the priority network is flowing freely, all available resources are deployed on community routes across the borough.

Whist working on these routes, every effort is made to respond to individual requests for assistance received from residents and travellers.

During heavy snowfall, Hand Salting Teams will be deployed to clear snow and ice from areas where people are most at risk such as near schools, sheltered housing and busier footways.

Whilst working in these areas, every effort is made to respond to individual requests for assistance received from residents.

5,000t of rock salt, is already stockpiled at the Hellaby Depot in the purpose built salt barn.

Even though 5,000t is more than enough to keep the town’s main routes moving for most of the winter, the salt level is monitored throughout the winter and, if need be, restocking is carried out.

Ten gritting lorries will be ready to deliver that salt to Rotherham’s roads, piloted by any of 40 City and Guilds qualified drivers who will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week between November and March.

To assist the salting teams, over 25 volunteers and several Parish Councils will be helping to clear snow in their communities.

Over the winter season regular Tweets will be sent out from the Council’s Twitter feed, @RMBCpress, keeping members of the public informed of weather conditions and the works being carried out.

For those already on the road, electronic signs (VMS) on main routes will be used to advice drivers of freezing conditions.

For more information see www.rotherham.gov.uk/winter.