Argyll and Bute Council ready for winter

A Scottish council is all set for winter – with 33 front line gritters which can also be used as snowploughs, a stock of 11,000 tonnes of rock salt and a trained team ready to treat the roads in Argyll and Bute.

The council is responsible for 1,455 miles of roads – almost the entire road network. Of those 753 miles are pre-treated as priority routes.

The council’s policy lead for roads and amenity services, councillor Ellen Morton, said: “There are challenges in keeping our roads clear in Argyll and Bute with its unique geography. However, based on the experience of previous years we have winter standby arrangements in place from now until mid-April next year.

“During the forthcoming months if extreme weather does come to Argyll and Bute, we will do everything we can to keep our roads network open.”

The council’s vehicles have been serviced and overhauled and trial runs have been made over priority routes. Grit bins are being filled, staff trained and rotas put in place to provide cover seven days a week when required.

The council is preparing a winter weather ready leaflet to advise householders and businesses on how to prepare themselves, and information will be readily available on our website and social media.

All routes will be pre-treated with rock salt, as the most effective method of preventing freezing of wet surfaces or melting of previously formed ice.