- minister calls on local authorities to stock-up on salt and
grit to keep key routes open
- comes as Highways England rolls out 93 state-of-the-art new
gritters as part of the 535-strong winter fleet
- flood risk reduction programme also underway whilst rail
network implements winter resilience plans
Roads Minister Baroness Vere has called upon
local authorities across the country to ensure key transport
routes to COVID-19 test centres are kept open and running
smoothly this winter.
Baroness Vere has written to councils
urging them to ensure their supplies of salt and grit are topped
up so that essential routes, such as those to hospitals and
COVID-19 testing stations, are well maintained as the country
prepares for the potential challenge of severe weather alongside
COVID-19.
Alongside councils’ stocks, Highways England maintains a salt
stock of 270,000 tonnes for use on its roads network, with a
further 357,000 tonnes held in a national salt reserve. Salt
producers, through the Salt Association, have confirmed that
production is at sufficient levels to protect road users over the
coming months.
The government has also invested over £16 million to help
Highways England roll out 93 brand new gritters for use this
winter, ensuring traffic can continue to move smoothly on
Britain’s motorways and major A-roads. The new gritters join a
535-strong winter fleet, including 23 snow blowers capable of
removing up to 2,500 tonnes of snow per hour. A further £40
million will be invested by Highways England to help over 250
replacement winter vehicles join the fleet. Transport
Secretary, , said:
We have worked tirelessly with the country’s highways teams to
make sure our transport networks are kept open and running in
whatever weather we encounter. This year, it is more
important than ever that Britain is prepared for the winter as
we continue to tackle the pandemic. Through this work, we’ll
ensure key routes to COVID-19 test centres remain open in the
coming months.
Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England, said:
Our winter fleet will be out treating our roads around the
clock whenever ice or snow is forecast, but it is still
important that drivers plan their journeys, make sure they are
prepared for the winter weather and drive safely in all
conditions.
The UK’s rail network is also
prepared for the more challenging weather conditions, with
contingency plans put together so essential workers can rely on
the railways. Network Rail and train operators are implementing a
range of measures, from deploying specialist
cold-weather vehicles such as de-icers at strategic locations,
to using inflatable flood defence measures, as well as special
timetables ready to implement if needed.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues
to work to reduce the risk of flooding across England, with a
£120 million programme of repairs for flood defences following
last winter’s extreme weather on top of £2.6 billion invested in
the construction of new flood and coastal defences since 2015.
The Environment Agency is ready to respond to flooding this
winter with 250 high volume pumps available and 6,500 trained
staff across the country. People can also check their flood risk
and sign up to flood warnings online.