Angus Council is trying to make sure it will cope this winter if the weather turns nasty on the roads.
Councillors will today be asked to approve a winter service policy for snow clearing that sets out priorities in the event of a harsh winter that again tests the council’s ability to respond.
The authority has already bought an extra 100 grit bins. Managers have also ordered 1500 more tonnes of salt than last winter, bringing the total brought in for the coming winter to around 19,000 tonnes.
The authority has set aside an extra £400,000 for the coming winter to help keep the roads and pavements clear. The extra cash is included in a previously-agreed budget for winter maintenance of £2,490,000.
A report to go before today’s meeting of Angus Council’s infrastructure services committee in Forfar looks back on last winter, one of the most severe of recent years and one that the council admits stretched its resources.
The demand for services from the county’s residents and businesses was “overwhelming” and led to an 83% overspend on the winter maintenance budget. In total, the authority spent £3.681 million keeping roads clear last winter.
In his report to committee, director of infrastructure services Eric Lowson says the heavy and repeated snowfalls last winter “stretched” resources. He reminds councillors that the snow was so deep in parts of the county that footpath ploughs could not operate and roads were narrowed by the build-up of cleared snow.A cold reminder: click here to browse our Winter 2010 photo galleriesIn addition, private contractors had to be employed to dig out and take the snow away to be dumped elsewhere.
Councillors are being asked to approve arrangements for the coming winter which are said to be broadly similar to last winter. Priority will be given to main roads and other roads and footpaths that are “heavily trafficked.”
The report warns the council will not provide winter maintenance on private roads.
Mr Lowson also advises that it has been decided it would not be possible or appropriate to sell salt directly to the public for snow and ice clearance.
He points out that could leave the council open to the accusation of undercutting commercial sellers and could affect sections of the business community.
The council will also be unable to make recommendations or endorse any supplier.