COUNCILS and the Government have been urged: Act now to avoid winter chaos on the roads.
A top-level review into the massive problems caused last winter, when councils were forced to slash their gritting routes, has called for urgent action.
Now Kirklees Council and others are already planning for next winter, even though it is only mid Summer.
And the Government has been urged to import 250,000 tonnes of road salt to deal with a winter as bad as last year, a Whitehall-commissioned report said today.
England could be up to half a million tonnes or more short of salt if winter 2010/11 is as severe as winter 2009/10, the report said.
Kirklees, like many other councils, was forced to abandon its normal gritting routes.
Council highways staff drew up a new list of priority routes to try and keep open roads for buses and to schools and hospitals.
It meant many roads went untreated for many days in harsh snow and ice conditions.
Today a Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We are currently in the process of making arrangements for winter maintenance and these are expected to be finalised soon.
“Last winter’s weather created problems for all councils as it was the most severe for 30 years.
“The national salt shortage meant stocks were controlled by government, but gritting was as comprehensive as possible with the amount we were allowed.”
The review team said the imported salt should be made available to local highway authorities, at a premium price, both to reflect the costs of importing and storing it and to provide an incentive to authorities to build up their own stocks.
At the end of December, salt usage and stocks should be reassessed, the latest weather forecasts reviewed and decisions made whether further additional strategic supplies are required, in addition to what the UK producers can supply.
The interim report, covering England, came from a three-man winter resilience review panel set up earlier this year by former transport secretary Lord Adonis following the worst winter weather for 30 years.
Chaired by RAC Foundation chief David Quarmby, the review report today also recommended:
All local authorities review and update their winter plans, including consulting fully on the networks to be treated, and considering whether less salt can be used while maintaining effective coverage;
The Government helps the public to help themselves by issuing a short, simple code on clearing snow and ice from pavements, to reassure and encourage them, and help guard against negligence claims;
That properly co-ordinated research is needed to update various technical standards, so that local authorities have authoritative guidance for improving salt utilisation.
Mr Quarmby said today: “Last year, we just managed to keep traffic moving on the nation’s roads due to the concerted effort of local authorities, national Government and the road salt suppliers. But we came perilously close to running out of salt and many people found the winter months very difficult.
“We can’t know when such a severe winter will hit us again, but we can take steps as a nation to ensure that, when it does, we will cope better”.
