Kent’s salting lorries are on standby

2 February 2012

Kent’s fleet of more than 60 salting lorries is on standby to keep the county moving during the expected big freeze this weekend.

If heavy snow hits the county, the lorries will be fitted with snow ploughs and extra drivers drafted in so they can be driven around the clock to make sure key routes are kept clear.

Throughout the week, salting lorries have been out overnight treating roads to prevent ice forming.

The county council has fully stocked 2,000 salt bins across Kent and provided more than 100 one-tonne salt bags to parishes, to help local communities beat freezing road conditions.

Crews have also been put on standby to hand salt areas around town centres, such as shopping centres, doctors surgeries and hospitals if there is heavy snowfall.

Bryan Sweetland, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, said: “Our lorries salt about a third of our ‘A’ and ‘B’-roads and around 15% of other important parts of the network. We do not treat all the roads – we salt about half of our entire 5,000 mile road network. On top of this, when the snow comes, we have more than 180 local farmers contracted to clear dedicated key rural routes.

“Our aim is to keep Kent moving by maintaining important routes to hospitals, workplaces, and schools, for example, and those routes used by buses.

“We also have smaller vehicles that can help clear snow and salt smaller roads, such as estate roads, that are not on main salting routes when an area is particularly badly hit.”

Mr Sweetland said the salt bins would be used by local communities. He said: “The salt bins are there to help all road users, including pedestrians. They can be used to treat ice and snow on small areas of the road or footpaths. It is not for use on private drives or paths.

“In addition to expanding the number of salt bins in Kent we have again encouraged parishes to take up our offer to have one-tonne salt bags. This allows the parishes to co-ordinate where and who will treat their patch, so that local people can work together to improve conditions in their area.”

Last year the government issued advice on how people can clear snow safely and effectively. For more information view the Snow Code.

For more information on Kent’s winter preparations, including information for parents about any school closures, our salting routes and winter driving advice, please visit our winter service information pages.