Dilemma for councils as grit runs low

Paul Whitehouse

STOCKS of road grit are running so low in parts of Yorkshire that local authorities are sharing supplies or even using sand collected from beaches to treat footpaths.

Councils also face an unexpected bill that could run into millions of pounds across the region for keeping roads and footpaths clear of ice and snow.

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Some councils still have thousands of tonnes of grit in reserve, but others have seen stocks dwindle rapidly since the cold weather started in December.

Already gritting has cost 2m in Sheffield where the city council had an annual budget for the work of 1.4m and the total is almost certain to be significantly higher by the end of the financial year.

York Council had completed 70 gritting runs until yesterday when it would anticipate to make only 64 in a full year, with inevitable cost implications. Hull Council may overspend if the current bad weather continues.

North Yorkshire County Council has a stockpile of 8,000 tonnes of salt, enough to grit for 10 days in normal conditions though it is accepted that will be “proportionately reduced” by the current extreme weather.

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However, it has told Scarborough Council, which grits the resort on its behalf, to treat only priority routes and the most used footpaths, such as those at shopping centres.

As a result, Scarborough Council has started taking sand from the beach to try to minimise the effect of ice on footpaths it is not allowed to grit.

A Scarborough Council spokeswoman said parks and cleansing staff had been put on sand-spreading duties.

“We have heard we have enough grit to keep us going for a couple of days,” she said.

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Kirklees Council has enough supplies to last until the weekend, though new supplies are expected.

Barnsley Council still has 3,000 tonnes stockpiled, having put down 5,000 so far this winter. York Council has been given additional supplies by NYCC and Selby Council and currently has around 800 tonnes available.

Leeds Council has spent just over half of its 1.3m winter maintenance budget and has grit to last until the end of next week, with another delivery due.

In Wakefield more than 4,000 tonnes of salt have been used since the start of the cold spell, 350 staff being involved.

In Sheffield, 560 tonnes were spread on Tuesday and the council reports it still has stocks and remains well above “critical” level.