Council readies for winter as colder weather sets in

WINTER WEATHER: Conditions in 2009/10 caught many councils off guard
and led to a renewed emphasis on planning for frequent snowfall.

SOLIHULL’S highways team is confident that it has made all the necessary preparations to keep the roads moving in the event of a bad winter.
Last year, the borough council had little to contend with; the weather throughout the traditional “gritting months” was milder and wetter than usual.
While this led to flooding in some areas – and a slight increase in the number of potholes – there was little by way of ice and snow.
Councillor Ted Richards, the cabinet member for transport and highways, said there was no reason for complacency – 4,500 tonnes of gritting salt has been stockpiled in readiness for this winter.
“We’re well geared up,” he said. “Let’s hope we don’t get a severe weather but if we do, it looks like we can cope with it.”
Councillor Stephen Holt (Green, Smith’s Wood) had questioned if the comparatively mild conditions in 2015/16 – when only 25 gritting runs took place – had saved the council any money.
He was informed, however, that gritting is “a fixed cost” service and the only saving would have been on the salt used.