Ready salted

COUNCILS across the country have not yet received all the grit they need to keep roads clear this winter — but Oldham is an exception.

The Local Government Association (LGA) surveyed councils across the country to find out what supplies they had available.

Of the 87 that responded, 18 per cent said they had not been provided with all the salt they had requested and were short by an average of 1,700 tonnes each.

The survey also showed that 78 per cent intended to have more salt in stock this winter, with the rest aiming for the same amount as last year when some councils struggled to cope with the worst winter for 30 years.

Covering councils in England and Wales, the poll also showed that around 10 per cent of councils had an arrangement to get supplies from abroad this winter.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said: “Oldham Council currently has stockpiled more than adequate supplies of road-gritting salt and we will be adding to these over the coming months so we are ready for winter.

“We have contingency plans in place and we are fully prepared to keep the borough and its residents moving.”

LGA economy and transport board chairman Peter Box said: “Treating the roads during the past two winters has caused problems for councils because of salt suppliers being overwhelmed by demand.

“The whole country is well aware of the power of Mother Nature.

“As we go into another winter, a proportion of councils do not have as much salt in their storage facilities as they would like to have because the suppliers haven’t provided all the stock they’ve asked for.”

He added: “Although there should be a few weeks’ grace before gritting is necessary on a large scale, it is not ideal that the suppliers are playing catch–up from the word go.

“Councils all over the country are responding to this by setting up more arrangements with neighbouring councils to co–operate on supplies, and have looked into foreign sources of road salt.”