Two massive piles of salt are in place to keep pedestrians and drivers safe in the grip of the coldest of winters.
Councillors approved a £2.5m plan to keep West Lothian moving this winter with a further £168,000 available if required through the Winter Resilience Fund.
Under the plan backed by the council’s Executive a minimum of 30,000 tonnes of salt will be available to treat the county’s network of which consists of around 700 miles (1,000km) of roads and over 800 miles (1,300km) of footways.
In addition, the salt contract includes alternative suppliers should the need arise.
Councillors were also given the definition of an Extreme Weather Event: “where continuous snow is forecast and likely to give significant accumulations in excess of 10cm covering the whole of the north or south expanse within the council area.
“The snow will also be expected to remain in untreated areas for a prolonged period due to low temperatures before a natural thaw disperses it. During periods of extreme weather and heavy continuous snowfall when roads and footways are affected by significant levels of lying snow, priority will be given to primary carriageway routes and primary footpath routes and these routes will be known as West Lothian Council’s ‘Snow Routes’.”
Snow Routes are defined as: “Urban shopping areas and precincts. Routes to schools, access to health centres and medical centres, hospitals, etc. main routes to residential areas and bus stops.”
The county will again be divided along north/south lines with forecasts followed for different areas.
A report to the Executive added: “Delivery of the winter plan rests with Roads & Transportation however additional resources are utilised from NET`s, Land & Countryside Services to provide a robust and flexible rota. Trained HGV drivers from other service areas are also available should the need arise.
“A contract is also in place allowing the engagement of external resources and equipment if required.”
The winter service plan comes into force at the end of this month.
Alongside from the two giant stockpiles in council depots, smaller pick-up points will be introduced for a second year as well as the more than 2,000 grit bins.
Two dedicated crews will be in place to help replenish the grit bins across the county during the winter. A total of 25 self-help points where residents can collect salt supplies will also continue.
The plan covers the priority system which is used to treat roads and footways during winter conditions, with the primary carriageway routes being treated 24 hours per day as required.
David Maule, Interim Head of Operational Services said: “Our winter service plan aims to ensure we take all reasonable steps to help cope with the impact of winter weather.
“We do not have the resources to treat all the roads and footways at once, so we have adopted a priority system, which ensures key roads are treated 24 hours a day as required.
“Local residents can help, if they are able, by clearing residential roads and paths outside their properties if they wish using salt from their nearest grit bin or one of our 25 self-help points.
Welcoming the plans councillors pitched in with requests for additional bins and salt piles – starting with Sally Pattle who apologised for “starting the avalanche of lobbying.” requesting help for Philpstoun. She was followed by making a plea Carl John for Pumpherston and Angela Doran-Timson for Uphall.
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