As winter approaches East Dunbartonshire Council is prepared to respond to the challenges that the seasonal weather brings.
Council crews are now on call 24/7 to manage and deal with the weather conditions and Councillor Paul Ferretti, Convener of Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets wants to reassure residents that the Council is prepared for any challenges that may occur.
Councillor Ferretti said, “While we always hope for a manageable winter, we are prepared for all weather conditions. Keeping people moving is vital over the coming winter months.
“Our highly experienced Roads Service teams provide gritting services across East Dunbartonshire, to ensure that our roads and pavements are as free from ice and snow as possible. In common with all local authorities, we have to prioritise our roads.
“Primary routes, which cover over half of East Dunbartonshire’s roads, are our first priority and will be cleared first before we proceed to treating secondary routes. Secondary roads are only salted when resources allow and when there has been consistent adverse weather. Through preventive actions and prioritising our roads in this way, we aim to keep everyone’s journeys as uninterrupted as we can.”
The Council’s Winter Service Policy for 2023/24 guides and informs the approach to severe weather including heavy snow, rain and icy temperatures.
It classifies Primary routes as:
- Main roads
- Bus routes
- Access to fire, police and ambulance stations and hospitals
- At least one access road to each school
- Dangerous and steep roads.
Secondary routes include:
- General access routes
- Cul-de-sacs
- Quieter industrial roads.
The Council also has specialised gritters for pavements, based in strategic locations throughout the area. If freezing conditions are forecast, Primary Footway Routes will be gritted in advance as a precaution.
There are over 450 grit bins placed throughout East Dunbartonshire which people are welcome to use. If your nearest grit bin needs replenished, please phone 0300 123 4510.
Additional grit is available from Broomhill Depot on Kilsyth Road in Kirkintilloch. This facility is intended for public use and residents are asked to please bring a shovel and container when collecting.
Councillor Ferretti continued, “While our winter weather is becoming less predictable, I would like to reassure our residents that our dedicated teams are prepared for every eventuality. Residents of East Dunbartonshire always do an amazing job of making use of grit bins and helping to keep their communities clear of snow, and I am sure this year will be no different. There are over 450 grit bins throughout the area and we have additional grit available at our Broomhill Depot. We hope that by being prepared and focusing on the areas that need our attention the most, we can all have a safe and enjoyable winter.”
You can view East Dunbartonshire Council’s winter policy on our website at Winter Service Policy 2023-24
Gritting updates will be updated daily on our dedicated gritting page at from Thursday 12 October.