Gearing up for winter

As temperatures begin to fall, North Tyneside Council is well underway with its preparations to keep the borough moving this winter.

The council has stockpiled 5,000 tonnes of rock salt, and, after temperatures dropped to below zero degrees in the last fortnight, the public may have already spotted its 12 gritting vehicles treating roads.

All 200 grit bins, which can be found right across the borough, have also been filled for use by staff and the public.

The council’s website is all set for winter, too, featuring useful advice and information – including grit bin locations, details to request them to be refilled, a map of the roads treated by the council and a helpful video explaining how grit works.

Cllr Carl Johnson, cabinet member for Environment and Transport, said: “With winter fast approaching, we’re well underway with our annual preparations to ensure we keep disruption caused by the weather to a minimum. Our teams work throughout the day and night, including weekends, to help keep the roads clear.

“If we experience adverse weather, we would urge all drivers to take extra care at all times and make sure their vehicles are prepared for the weather.

“We would also ask residents to help by looking out for each other and checking on elderly neighbours and relatives.”

The 5,000 tonnes of rock salt will be used to treat the 240-miles of main roads and bus routes, whenever necessary.

If the borough experiences heavy snowfall, the council will go beyond its statutory requirement by also clearing and pre-salting lower priority routes – but only after the main roads are cleared – as it did earlier this year when the area experienced extreme weather conditions.

During this heavy snowfall, in the interest of public and staff safety, the council had to suspend refuse collections, but it redirected its refuse collection teams to help clear snow and ice near schools, retirement accommodation and in town centres.

As well as checking the council’s website, residents can follow the local authority on Twitter and Facebook for information about any school closures and disruptions to refuse collections.

ENDS