Council stocks up on grit

Twenty thousand tonnes of salt have travelled by cargo ship all the way from Egypt and arrived at Immingham Docks yesterday – more than doubling the county’s stock levels to 42,000 tonnes.

The stockpile is 10,000 tonnes higher than the amount of salt used last winter, when the council came in for fierce criticism from residents over its alleged failure to keep roads sufficiently gritted in the bitter icy snap.

Lincolnshire COunty Council’s executive member for Highways and Transportation, Councillor William Webb, said: “It may be sunny outside, but we’re getting ready for winter now.

“It makes sense to boost our salt stock levels at this time of year to take advantage of lower prices, getting better value for Lincolnshire taxpayers.

“The salt comes all the way from Egypt and is some of the purest in world.

“It is extremely fine, so we need less of it because it cuts through ice more quickly.

“Quite simply, it’s perfect to use on our roads and helps keep the county moving in freezing conditions.”

An initial distribution of salt to highways depots around the county will take place over the next couple of weeks. The remainder will be stored at the docks until later in the year.

The council’s typical winter grit useage is around 18,000 tonnes.