Council gritters have already hit Sefton’s streets for the first time this week as road temperatures dropped below freezing.

Sefton Council's fleet

Sefton Council’s 10-strong fleet of 18-tonne gritters have treated over 290 miles (470km) of Sefton’s roads twice. This was after receiving Met Office notifications of the very low road temperatures that accompanied the recent foggy conditions.

In line with national guidelines, the gritters cover Sefton’s main arterial routes, bus routes, and roads into hospitals. Between them, they cover the equivalent distance of a journey from Bootle to Inverness every time they go out.

Grit stocks replenished

To help keep Sefton’s roads safe and clear over the winter, the Council has over 3,500 tonnes of grit salt stored at its purpose-built Winter Hub in Netherton

Last winter, the fleet went out 40 times, which means that between them, Sefton’s gritters covered almost 11,700 miles. Additionally, footways were gritted 16 times during very cold periods.

During January’s particularly cold snap, gritters went out 11 times over 3 days, and used 640 tonnes of grit salt.

Monitoring conditions

Between November and March, weather conditions are monitored 24 hours a day by Sefton Council’s duty officers who make gritting decisions based on forecast and actual temperatures and weather conditions.

Different factors like humidity, wind, and fog can mean the road temperatures are colder than air temperatures. Sending out gritters makes sure our roads are clear of ice even if the air temperatures are warmer. Council staff are on call to act if required, including over Christmas and New year, to ensure Sefton’s roads are as safe as possible.

Cllr Phil Hart, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said:

“We spend each year making sure we are ready for gritting, and lots goes on behind the scenes to keep Sefton moving in cold weather.

“This includes regular deliveries to restock our Winter Hub, with trucks bringing in around 30 tonnes of grit salt at a time.

“Our staff are now on standby, monitoring temperatures and weather ready to press go when the road temperatures drop below freezing, like they have this week as fog has caused road temperatures to drop.”

How grit works

Grit salt helps stop ice forming by lowering the freezing point of water. It doesn't just sit on the road but works best when traffic spreads it across the surface. That is why busy routes often clear quickest, although drivers should still take extra care during icy conditions, especially early in the day.

Cllr Hart continued:
“Our teams’ work to make sure our streets are safe, typically takes place overnight and in the very early hours while most of us are tucked up in bed, which is why people often don’t seem them.

“We’re ready for whatever winter throws at us, and residents can be confident that our teams are on hand to help keep Sefton moving safely when temperatures fall.”

People can find out more about Sefton Council’s gritting operations, including maps of the routes covered at www.sefton.gov.uk/gritting .