Northumberland County Council’s network of roads requires lots of grit. Spanning hundreds of miles of road, the fleet of gritters will routinely treat a network of 29 main routes.
It will also grit busy footpaths, car parks and shopping areas during persistent icy weather conditions. Bus routes and distributor roads with steep approaches to main road junctions are also treated as a priority.
The gritting route is planned so that treated roads can be reached within no more than five miles for rural residents and no more than one mile for urban residents. Secondary routes will be gritted when widespread ice is expected to continue through the day and in light snowfall.
Read more: North East to freeze as Met Office predicts up to 20cm of snow with weather warning extended
Northumberland Council adds that “Not all roads are routinely gritted, and local extreme weather conditions may mean parts of the road network are not treated as normal. Despite our best efforts, even on gritted roads, ice may reform.”
Which roads in Northumberland will be gritted?
For treatment of normal overnight frost a selected network of main and strategic routes is routinely salted. These roads are so that residents in small villages should not have to travel more than five miles before reaching a salted road - in urban areas, this distance should be a mile.
Can I use grit bins to salt my road or path?
The good news is that yes, you can use salt bins to grit the roads and pathways around your home. There are more than 1,500 grit bins across the county at locations with steep gradients, exposed sites, steps or difficult junctions.
Residents are reminded, however, that the grit is to be used for public roads and footpaths during severe weather. It is not provided for use on private roads or driveways.
Tips for icy and snowy weather
• There is no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces
• It is unlikely you will be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries on the path if you have cleared it carefully
• Never use hot water – this will melt the snow and replace it with black ice
• Clear snow from the centre outwards so you have a clear surface to walk on
• Pay particular attention to steps
• Ordinary table salt works well on a small cleared area – but avoid pouring it on your plants
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