Ready for winter

OLDHAM Council says its plans to keep the borough moving over winter are well under way.

Grit stocks are in place to meet the challenge if there is any repeat of the heavy snowfall experienced in recent years.

The council says it has stockpiled more than adequate supplies of road-gritting salt and will be adding to it over the coming months.

It acquired the grit supply earlier this year when prices were lower to provide value for money for residents.

The fleet of gritters, which last year gritted a total of 72,412 miles of adopted highway, are again ready for use to keep the roads clear.

The council says that as far as reasonably possible, it will keep the primary highway network free of ice and snow at all times, to help ensure a safe journey for commuters and residents.

Resources are initially directed to gritting seven priority routes, including the trans-Pennine roads and most of the major bus routes.

Over the coming weeks workers will also be out filling the 596 grit bins which are dotted around the borough so residents can make sure pavements are free from ice and snow.