Multi-faith ceremony blesses Lincolnshire's gritters, work crews and road users

Religious representatives visited Lincolnshire County Council’s Ancaster depot to share prayers and positivity about keeping the roads open.

The group’s good wishes were spread across the gritting fleet machines, materials, staff and road users ahead of the wintry temperature drop that will soon descend across the county.

The salting team were given specific messages of faith and goodwill from Christian, Sikh and Hindu communities in the county.

Stuart Cradduck, Rector of St Wulfrum’s Grantham, Nina Chapman Lay Hindu Chaplain at University of Lincoln, Jasmit Kaur Phull Sikh Chaplain at University of Lincoln, Reverend Steve Holt Christian Chair of the Centre for Reconciliation and Alicia Armsworth Multi-faith Chaplaincy Administrator at University of Lincoln took part in the ceremony.

Father Cradduck said: “It’s so very welcome to again be part of this blessing for the gritters and those who work on them. The critical service they provide to keep road users like all of us safe deserves to be recognised and it’s very much appreciated.”

Nina Chapman added: “To be here as part of this now annual blessing is a special moment and a good way to focus minds on staying safe this winter.”

Jasmit Kaur Phull said: “I feel honoured to be here at this very important ceremony which is spreading the word about keeping people as safe as possible and being considerate and careful when you are driving this winter.”

The now annual multi-faith blessing gives the chance for religious groups and LCC to spread the message of being careful on the road during the winter months, and underline the plea to everyone traveling to drive to the conditions and give the gritters the space they need when they are out gritting the county’s roads.

Coun Sean Matthews, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council was at the blessing and said: “It helps us to not only spread the word ahead of the colder conditions coming in, but it’s a positive coming together for very good reasons.”

Coun Michael Cheyne, Executive member for Highways added: “The messages were simple but effective from the different groups represented here today - we appreciate the gritting teams and what they do, be careful out there in the winter and be considerate on the road where you can.”

True Grit! By the numbers:

• The county has a budget of £1.2m a year for salt. Last year the council spent £1,000,000 on the grippy stuff. The molasses-treated salt that is bought in will last for five years – this lifespan has never been tested though as the salt stored is always used well before the five years is up

• There are 47 gritters that serve the county – these range from mainly 26-tonne gritters with 10-tonne hoppers,18-tonne lorries with 6-tonne hoppers on the back and smaller 10-tonne versions with a 3-tonne hopper on the back

• LCC holds 29,200 tonnes of salt in the county’s depots

• On average, LCC uses 20,000 tonnes of salt a year

• The most salt ever used in one winter was across the 2010/11 ‘Beast from the East’ brutally cold season. That year a massive 38,000 tonnes of salt was put down on the roads

• There are 12 weather stations around the county feeding data back about the weather and road temperatures. LCC has access to eight others sited with other counties which help to more accurately predict weather systems as they join up across country