Two modern gritting vehicles are replacing time expired vehicles in the council’s gritting fleet, ready to help spread salt on priority routes this winter.
The two three-year-old second-hand vehicles are equipped with the latest tracking technology for the efficient use of salt and the council continuing to have ten gritting vehicles in total.
Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, Executive member for Transport, Highways and Road Safety commented: “We keep a tight grip on the budget and we were able to buy these low mileage vehicles for £95k each rather than £130k for new vehicles a saving of £70k. As London’s largest borough, with more than 550 miles of road - the distance from Bromley to Zurich - we aim to grit, within a few hours of freezing weather being forecast, 200 miles of priority roads including rural areas like Biggin Hill which sits on the highest point in Greater London.”
Councillor Bennett continued, “Our roads are the economic arteries of the borough and early gritting of our priority roads ensures that there is a clear passage for the emergency services, bus services and other essential traffic. In addition to the key roads, we also salt pavements in shopping areas, around schools and hospitals. We are also grateful to our Snow Friends - residents who help clear snow in their street.”
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Notes to editors:
The A21 and part of the A232 (West Wickham to Locksbottom) are maintained by Transport for London (TfL). Consequently, TfL are responsible for gritting these roads, which form part of Red Route.
Ever changing weather forecasts mean gritting work is constantly adjusted and during the winter season, residents can follow updates from @BromleySnow or visit the road gritting webpage on the council’s website. If snow should occur, normal street cleaning duties are suspended and crews help clear snow from town centre pavements instead. Snow Friends help out too, concentrating on the local residential roads so more of the borough is free of snow and ice.
The council’s aim during bad weather, is to keep traffic moving around the borough. To assist with this, detailed forecasts help predict when frost, ice or snow is likely so the council’s gritting and snow clearance crews can respond accordingly. However, it’s impossible to treat all 500 miles of roads and over 800 miles of pavements, so the main routes are prioritised. These priority routes are roads that are regularly used and serve main bus routes for instance, also approaches to hospitals, fire, police and ambulance stations including steep routes. Whilst it is not expected on this occasion, in the event of sustained snow, street cleaning teams will focus on clearing snow for pedestrians in areas of high footfall, transferring roles and clearing snow from pavements near the main shopping centres, schools, bus and train stations.
Snow Friends help out too of course, and concentrate on clearing the local, residential roads so more of the borough is free of snow and ice. During the season, follow @BromleySnow for updates on x, formerly twitter or visit www.bromley.gov.uk/winter.
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk.