Council send out gritters to Southport and Sefton as temperatures plunged to -1

Sefton Council’s gritting teams have already rolled into action as the 2021/22 gritting and road treatment programme gets underway.

The local authority dispatched a fleet of winter vehicles from its award winning ‘Gritting Headquarters’ in Netherton to grit nearly 470km of road and heavily pedestrianised pavements across the borough during periods of very low temperatures 

The first dispatch of the 2021/22 winter season was recorded on the evening on Sunday, 21st November.

During periods of low temperatures when ice can form on road surfaces, Sefton Council and its contractors undertake a large scale carriageway treatment programme, supplemented by footway gritting in key town centres at any time day or night and continue treatments as long as necessary.

This is the second year Sefton Council are working from its ‘Winter Hub,’ after it was deemed the previous depot was no longer fit for purpose.

Located in Netherton, the ‘Hub’ has the capacity to store 3500 tonnes of salt, over 250% more storage space than was available in the previous depot.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “Without a doubt having this in-house facility is a major boost to the quality of our winter gritting service.

“The ‘Winter Hub’ is a much needed addition to our Council assets and will help us to ensure, as we do every year, that residents in Sefton will be driving on safe roads this winter.

“While our gritting programme is extensive, we do encourage residents to take extra care when out and about as untreated side roads and pathways may be icy.”

During colder months Sefton also encourages residents to check in on elderly or isolated neighbours to make sure they are ok and are fully prepared for any potential adverse weather conditions.

Find out which roads and pavements are treated here