Oldham Council’s plans to keep the borough moving over the coming winter months are well underway.
As the temperature has dropped recently, gritters have been out on the roads.
Grit stocks, systems and services are in place to meet the challenge if there is a repeat of the heavy snowfall of previous years.
Councillor Fida Hussain, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Although the temperature has fallen the weather has been quite mild so hopefully that will continue.
“But we would be complacent if we didn’t look at how we’ve done things in the past and try to make improvements.
“Lessons have been learned and contingency plans are in place for every foreseeable eventuality, including heavy snowfall.
“We’ve achieved a great deal of success in keeping the borough moving during previous harsh winters thanks to our forward planning but it’s also important that we all do our bit.
“We are doing as much as we can with the resources available but everyone can help out in their own way, such as gritting your elderly neighbour’s path or simply knocking on their door to see if they are okay and fancy a brew.
“We would urge people to regularly check the council website and listen to road and weather reports so that they can keep up to date with the latest news.
“We’ve stockpiled more than adequate supplies of road-gritting salt and we will be adding to them over the coming months.
“Our fleet of gritters, which include Walter the Salter and the Gritternator, last year gritted thousands of miles of adopted highway. They are again ready to keep our roads clear.
“As far as reasonably possible, we will keep the primary highway network free of ice and snow at all times in order to help ensure a safe journey for travellers and residents.”
Council resources are initially directed to gritting seven priority routes, including the trans-Pennine roads and most of the principal, classified and major bus routes.
Over the coming weeks they will fill the 637 grit bins around the borough so residents can make sure their paths – and those of their neighbours – are free from ice and snow.
To keep residents fully informed of any developments the Oldham Council website will be updated continually with latest news on school closures, gritting routes, locations of grit bins and grit sales.
Their First Response service will use its Twitter account @oldhamalert to inform followers of school and road closures or incidents.
These will also be retweeted for residents using the council’s account @oldhamcouncil and updates will appear via the local media.
If you require further information about gritting ring 0161 770 4421 or email gritting@oldham.gov.uk
If you would like to buy grit please email gritsales@oldham.gov.uk
You must be logged in to post a comment.