Road gritting

About this service

Our aim is to make the County's roads as safe as possible for road users and to reduce delays caused by bad weather. We salt key routes during the winter period (October to April) when there is a risk of ice by providing 24 hour cover to respond to weather conditions, using a fleet of specialist vehicles. The key routes comprise a total length of about 1160 km (725 miles) and represent some 25% of the entire maintained network.

When we salt roads

Decisions are based on road temperatures rather than air temperatures, and salting is likely whenever road temperatures are near freezing. Other factors like moisture, heat retention and time of day or night will influence the decision. Treatment by salt is normally carried out after the evening peak traffic period or before the morning rush. This is because frost and ice do not normally affect road surfaces until late evening or early morning. Usually it takes two hours to complete a salting route.

Which roads we salt

With such a large road network, it would be unrealistic and uneconomical to attempt to treat all roads. With continued budget restraints, we have resolved to maintain the network of roads that will routinely receive precautionary salting treatment this winter when ice is forecast. The network to be routinely treated will comprise all motorways, trunk roads, class A and B roads and the more important lower class roads. This should ensure the majority of road users live within a reasonable distance of a salted road. This network is under constant review and may be expanded during the current season. Please remember that the majority of minor roads will receive no treatment, and because arrangements may not always go according to plan, you should never assume a road has been salted.

If temperatures are predicted to remain below freezing after the morning rush, then a larger proportion of the network may be salted. This additional network includes mainly lower class roads serving housing estates and main accesses to villages and hamlets.

Should conditions persist, as much of the entire road network as possible will be salted.

Grit Bins Policy.

There are several hundred grit bins on the highway network These are repaired and replenished throughout the winter period as necessary.

Any requests for additional grit bins will only be considered if they are received from City, Town or Parish Councils. Requests direct from members of the public will not be considered.

The positioning of a proposed grit bin will be agreed by the Divisional Highway Manager who will consider the following conditions:

Bins should not be placed as a permanent measure on the primary salting route unless it is intended for use on a hazardous adjoining road which is not on a salting route.
Bins should only be placed in areas that are populated and have either a steep incline or a known seepage point.
They will only be placed where there is a wide verge or footpath and where there is sufficient space for safe salt replenishment.
Bins will not be placed on roads that are not adopted.
The bin shall not obstruct sight lines.
There must be sufficient traffic and/or pedestrian use to justify provision

Should a site prove problematic because of regular misuse of salt for the treatment of private driveways, or vandalism of a bin, Wiltshire Council reserve the right to remove the bin.

The City, Parish or Town Council should advise the Area Highway when the bins in their area are in need of refilling or maintenance. Wiltshire Council will endeavor to keep the bins refilled, subject to other priorities on the highway network.

Contact Details

Email: clarence@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0800 23 23 23 - From landlines within Wiltshire: or 01225 77 72 34 From Mobiles and from outside Wiltshire.
Fax: 01225 713488
Postal Address:
Customer Services
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN