A local rock star, a much-loved country park and a memorable weather event - these were the sources of inspiration when East Dunbartonshire primary school children were asked to name the Council’s new gritters.
Four shiny new vehicles have been added to East Dunbartonshire Council’s fleet in time for Winter and, following in a well-ploughed tradition of naming gritting machines, a call went out to all primary schools in East Dunbartonshire to get creative.
Welcome to the fleet Lew-ice Ca-plough-di, Mugdock Melter, Ctrl+Alt+De-ice and Beast from the East (Dunbartonshire).
More than 200 children rose to the challenge and submitted name suggestions on the themes of weather, popular culture and local landmarks. Entries were judged by Councillor Paul Ferretti, Convener of the Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets committee, along with members of the Fleet team.
The winning names, which are now emblazoned on the side of the new trucks, are the creative work of Daniel, p7 from Holy Family – who came up with Lew-ice Ca-plough-di in honour of the Glasgow singer; Beast from the East (Dunbartonshire) which was named by Jackson from p5 at Thomas Muir Primary School after the period of record-breaking arctic weather event in 2018 which he learned about in class. Fellow Thomas Muir pupil, AJ, who is in p4, came up with Mugdock Melter as a nod to the much-loved country park near Milngavie which he enjoys visiting with his family.
The final name of Ctrl+Alt+De-ice was submitted by two pupils at two different schools – Millie, from p6 at Gartconner Primary School, who loves gaming and all things computer-related and Lewis, a p6 pupil from Balmuildy Primary School, who also loves gaming.
Councillor Ferretti, said, “An appeal was put out to the primary school children of East Dunbartonshire to come up with memorable names to mark the expansion of the gritting fleet, and the children absolutely delivered.
“With so many clever and witty submissions, the judging process was a tough but enjoyable process, and we have got four crackers in time for Christmas.
The role of the gritting fleet is a vital part of the Council’s Winter maintenance programme and the Name A Gritter competition was a fun way to raise awareness amongst our school children of the work done to keep pedestrians and vehicles moving during the Winter months.
Many thanks to all the children who took part and the teachers and headteachers who supported.”
In between their gritting shifts, the new trucks visited the winning schools to allow the children to see their chosen names on the side of the trucks. The winning pupils were presented with a certificate by Councillor Paul Ferretti and their classmates treated to by a road safety lesson by the fleet team in the playground.
The Council is responsible for keeping the roads safe in winter and a team is on 24-hour standby from October to April. There are now 12 gritting lorries with snow plough attachments – fitted with so called “swap bodies" to allow them to be utilised for other tasks outwith
Winter, along with 10 footway gritters with ploughs.
Officers check the highways forecasting service and road sensors three times a day to plan gritting action which is then updated on the gritting page.
