Snow clearance
About this service
In periods of prolonged snow the main snow clearing resources will be concentrated on Priority Routes until they have been opened sufficiently to maintain a reasonable traffic flow in both directions. Other roads are then treated in accordance with local priorities and conditions.
Other than the precautionary salting of the roads, salting is carried out on predetermined routes as soon as snow starts to fall and settle on roads. Ploughing will commence as soon as there is sufficient depth to plough and it is apparent that snowfall is continuing.
If heavy or continuous falls are predicted a Snow Emergency will be called and the Emergency Control Centre established. In this event, the county's entire fleet of gritters will be mobilised and supplemented with the Council's owned snow blades and blowers that are allocated to local farmers or contractors.
Footways (to include footways, pavements, cycle routes and cycleways) will only be treated in times of persistent ice or snow. When this occurs, salting and snow clearing will be confined to those footways where there is a high pedestrian usage.
The time taken to clear footways will depend on the quantity of snow, the prevailing conditions and the available resources.
Closure of roads and police control
Signs
Wherever possible blocked roads and diversions should be properly signed. The Police will assist in controlling traffic particularly on newly opened sections of road. However, roads will not be opened to traffic until two lanes are clear.
Barriers
It is increasingly evident that snow-clearing plant can only work efficiently when other vehicles are excluded from the site of operations. On two sections of the A303 and one section of A350 gates are provided to close the road.
The expected diversionary routes are:
A303 closure between Amesbury and Mere. - A338 or A345 to Salisbury, A30 to Shaftesbury, B3095 to Mere and A303 and vice versa.
A350 closure between Longbridge Deverill and A303 - A36 Warminster to Wylye, A303 to Furze Hedge and vice versa.
- View the Snow Clearance Priority Routes
Contact Details
Email: clarence@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 456 0100
Fax: 01225 713145
Postal Address:
Customer Services
Wiltshire Council
County
Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JN