Thursday, 8 December 2011

Questions about road and footpath gritting?

Michelle writes: Now that the winter has descended upon us rather abruptly, it's time to think about keeping safe on the roads and footpaths.
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) places a very high priority on its winter maintenance service and has protected the funding for it despite the current severe financial challenges.  Due to the size of the County and the resources that NYCC have available to clear snow and ice, it is not possible for the County Council to treat all roads and footways in North Yorkshire during severe winter weather conditions. However, the County Council does routinely treat 50% of the road network, which is the largest proportion of any local highway authority in England.  Resources are focussed on the higher priority routes of our network in line with our winter maintenance policy and some lower priority roads and many footways are therefore not able to be treated.  In severe conditions local farming contractors form an integral part of our snow clearing operations.
NYCC currently have 55,000 tonnes of salt stored mainly in 12 salt barns across the county.  These are located at Richmond, Leyburn, Thirsk, Stokesley, Whitby, Seamer Carr (will be complete by February 2012), Kirby Misperton, Skipton, Ingleton, Boroughbridge (shared facility with the Highways Agency), West of Harrogate and Selby.  

In widespread freezing and wet conditions NYCC salt 2300km of priority 1 routes which include the major traffic routes connecting or passing through towns and other major centres of population and these should be treated by 7.00am. When conditions dictate, NYCC will move the gritters on to the 2100km of priority 2 routes which generally provide access to local communities and these should be treated by 10.00am.  Generally treatment does not take place between 11.00pm and 5.00am; however specific conditions may require us to do so.

Priority 3 routes which include the remaining 4500km of roads in housing estates and country lanes will not normally receive treatment unless NYCC know freezing conditions are likely to persist for more than 72 hours. Priority three routes will be treated, as resources permit, but with preference to priority one and two routes. 

Footways in busy shopping areas will be treated in snow conditions before 9am. Normal overnight frosty conditions will not warrant treatment of footways. After snow fall, busy shopping streets and main pedestrian footways will be cleared before other footways. In ice and snow conditions remaining footways will be treated in priority order subject to available resources.
Last winter NYCC also successfully trialled a winter maintenance volunteer scheme with a small number of Parish and Town Councils.  NYCC have now set up a new voluntary scheme that offers Parish Councils, Town Councils and other community groups the opportunity to deliver an enhanced level of winter maintenance service in the local area.  Take up of the new scheme has been encouraging with in the region of twenty parishes taking part.  
Parish and town councils who volunteer to join the scheme will play an important role in assisting with winter maintenance across North Yorkshire to benefit residents in their local community by providing a service that is in addition to the normal winter service.   
How do I get my road gritted? 
The schedule of treated roads has been developed over a number of years and is approved annually by the Council.  Whilst it is unlikely that any additional roads will be added to our current schedules, if you feel you have an exceptional case for amending, you should contact the Council. Any submission would benefit from having the support of your Parish/Town Council or the support of your local County Council Member.  Any additional requests that come in will be looked at in a preseason review. 
Can I request an additional salt bin? Parish councils and community groups/ resident organisations can acquire and maintain additional salt bins at locations that do not meet the County Council's criteria. In these circumstances a 200kg green (or yellow) bin will be provided at a cost of £50.  An annual maintenance charge of £75 will be applied to each bin to cover the cost of two salt replenishments. A further charge may be levied if additional fills are required. 
You can find more frequently asked questions and further details on our gritting operations, mapping and camera images on the website http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/

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