Gritter operative clearing roads in Diggle {Photo: Stuart Coleman©2012)
Oldham Council’s plans to keep the borough moving over the winter months are well underway. Grit stocks, systems and services are in place to meet the challenge if there is any repeat of the heavy snowfall experienced in recent years.
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: “Thankfully last winter wasn’t as harsh as previous years and hopefully that will be the case over the coming weeks and months. But we would be complacent if we didn’t look at how we’ve done things in the past and try to make improvements to the way we work. Lessons have been learned and feedback has been taken on board thus ensuring that 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 that are available to us, but everyone can help out in their own way, such as helping your neighbour grit their path or simply knocking on their door to see if they are okay and fancy a brew.
“We will be making every effort to keep residents informed about what is going on. I would urge residents to log onto 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. As in previous years we acquired our grit supply earlier in the year when prices were lower – providing value for money for residents.
“Our fleet of gritters, which last year gritted thousands of miles of adopted highway, are again ready for use 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 commuters and residents.”
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 workers will also be out filling the 596 grit bins which are dotted 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 – http://www.oldham.gov.uk/winter – will be updated continually and feature the latest news on school closures, gritting routes, locations of grit bins and grit sales.
The 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. Schools also have a text messaging system to inform parents if they are closing for the day.
If you require further information about gritting ring 0161 770 4421 or email gritting@oldham.gov.uk and if you would like to buy grit please email gritsales@oldham.gov.uk
