As temperatures begin to dip, Leicestershire County Council has confirmed that it is fully stocked and ready to tackle the challenges of winter weather.
More than 16,000 tonnes of rock salt have been delivered and distributed across five strategically located grit barns throughout the county.
The council is preparing to grit over 1,300 miles of roads—equivalent to the distance from Glenfield’s County Hall to Rome—on icy nights. On average, around 130 tonnes of salt will be spread each time road temperatures drop below freezing.
Picture credit: Leicestershire County Council
Councillor Charles Whitford, the council’s lead member for highways and transport, emphasised the importance of early preparation.
“Being adequately prepared to keep residents safe in winter is an incredibly important part of the council’s work,” he said. “Last year, our hardworking drivers were out on the roads 53 times, spreading nearly 7,000 tonnes of salt. We’re ready to do the same this year.”
He also praised the dedicated teams and thanked residents for their cooperation during adverse weather conditions.
The council’s winter fleet consists of 23 gritters, all equipped with temperature-tracking technology that helps determine when and where gritting is needed. Key routes including A-roads, busy B-roads, and access roads to emergency services and hospitals are prioritised.
In addition to road gritting, the council maintains pavement grit bins across the county. These are available for public use and by volunteer snow wardens, helping ensure pedestrian areas remain safe.
Residents can stay informed about gritting schedules and weather alerts via the council’s interactive gritting map and online winter safety resources.
