Exploring the Highland Council's winter service plan and community involvement
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Winter road maintenance strategies in Inverness: Keeping the city safe
As winter approaches, the Highland Council has implemented its winter service plan to ensure the roads in and around Inverness remain safe and accessible. With approximately 650 miles of roads to maintain, the council prioritizes its gritting operations to effectively manage the challenges posed by snow and ice.
Understanding the gritting priorities
The council’s strategy focuses on a tiered approach to road maintenance. Priority is given to the 206 miles of primary routes, which include main and local distributor roads frequently used by buses. Following these are the 170 miles of secondary routes, connecting smaller communities and additional bus routes to the primary network.
Finally, the 278 miles of tertiary routes cover minor and residential roads.
Each year, an average of 10,000 tonnes of salt is spread across Inverness’s roads, applied by a fleet of 17 gritters and 10 footpath tractors. These vehicles are designed to treat an average of 21 miles of primary and secondary routes, followed by 16 miles of other routes daily. Operations commence at 6 AM and can extend until 9 PM, with early starts during severe weather conditions.
Community involvement and support
The Highland Council encourages community participation in winter maintenance through its winter resilience scheme. Local groups can apply via their community council to carry out footway gritting in designated areas. The council provides essential resources such as salt, grit, bins, scrapers, and reflective waistcoats to support these initiatives.
In addition to the council’s efforts, there are 614 grit/salt bins strategically placed throughout the city, particularly in areas with steep gradients where regular road or footway gritting may not occur. These bins are filled before winter and replenished as needed, allowing residents to assist in keeping their neighborhoods safe.
Financial considerations and resource management
The council allocates approximately £1.2 million annually for winter maintenance in Inverness. However, the actual expenditure can vary significantly based on weather conditions. Ken Gowans, chair of the economy and infrastructure committee, emphasized the council’s commitment to maintaining safe roads, stating, “We have a statutory duty to keep the roads reasonably free from ice and snow.”
With adequate salt stocks of around 40,000 tonnes at the start of winter, the council is well-prepared to meet the demands of the season. Mr. Gowans noted that while public expectations for immediate gritting are high, the council staff must navigate ungritted roads to perform their duties safely.
Inverness’s proactive approach to winter road maintenance, combined with community support, ensures that the city remains accessible and safe during the colder months. For more updates on Inverness and its winter strategies, residents are encouraged to stay connected through local news outlets and community groups.
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