East Dunbartonshire Council is ready to respond to the challenges of the coming winter in order to keep its traffic and pedestrians safe and moving.
The Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee has approved the adoption of the Winter Service Policy for 2019/20 which guides how the Council responds to all cold weather conditions over the winter period including our response to severe weather, be it heavy snow, rain or freezing temperatures.
Council crews are on call 24/7 to deal with the challenging winter weather conditions and Councillor Susan Murray, Vice-Convener of the PNCA Committee, assured residents that the Council is prepared for the coming months' weather.
Councillor Murray said, "Whilst we are all hoping for a mild winter, the people of East Dunbartonshire should know we are well placed for whatever the weather throws at us.
"Dealing with the effects of snow and ice on our roads is a complex operation, but keeping everyone moving is a top priority for the Council.
"Our gritting fleet is ready for action at the first sign of freezing conditions, we have salt supplies stored in our salt dome, and our highly experienced teams are on standby throughout the winter to keep roads and pavements as snow and ice-free as we possibly can."
The Council uses the latest weather forecasting technology in planning its gritting operations including a dedicated forecasting service – specific to East Dunbartonshire - and road condition sensor stations at various locations across the authority which give information on the current road condition, road surface temperature and the amount of residual salt.
Councillor Murray added, "East Dunbartonshire, like all other local authorities, needs to prioritise what roads it treats. Our main priority is our Primary routes, which cover 67% of East Dunbartonshire’s 514km of road and consist of main roads, bus routes, access to schools, fire, police and hospitals, steep or dangerous roads and the main access roads to rural communities.
"We clear these before moving on to our Secondary routes, which include all other roads within the authority such as local and general access roads, less used industrial roads and cul-de-sacs, which are only salted during prolonged periods of adverse weather and when resources allow.
"While we will do all we can to help traffic to keep moving during winter weather events, it is also important for drivers to drive with caution and to consider whether their journey is absolutely necessary."
The Council also has specialised gritters for footways which are based in strategic locations throughout the East Dunbartonshire area. The main footway routes cover:
- Main shopping areas
- Footways adjacent to community centres and health centres
- Footways near to sheltered housing and schools
- Steep or particularly wet footways that create enhanced risk
Councillor Murray continued, "In recent years our communities have done a fantastic job in helping keep their areas clear of snow. The Council makes grit available for residents to use in their own streets, paths and driveways to help people be prepared as possible for winter. More than 400 grit bins are placed at strategic locations for people to help themselves. These are for public use and are regularly serviced and refilled. If a grit bin near you is empty please phone 0300 123 4510.
"Additional grit is available from Broomhill Depot, Kilsyth Road, Kirkintilloch. This is a facility for members of the public to use, so please bring a shovel and container."
Residents can check information about gritting plans via the Council's website at https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/gritting.
Gritting updates will also be posted on the council’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.
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