Inverclyde Council’s gritter fleet is benefitting from the addition of four new vehicles to boost its winter maintenance services.
In a statement yesterday, the local authority revealed that the new gritters have been introduced as replacements for its older vehicles that had reached the end of their seven-year lifespans.
With a total of six vehicles in its winter maintenance fleet, the council has confirmed that teams are now prepared to begin delivering services for the colder months, which will involve gritter drivers being on a 24-hour rota from the end October.
During this time, weather patterns are ‘monitored closely’ to support the safety of key routes (such as the ones surrounding hospitals, ambulance depots, fire stations, police offices, schools, and bus routes) and priority footways.
While the vehicles can be transformed into snow ploughs to help manage heavy snowfall, the council can sometimes call on external contractors and farmers to provide extra support when the weather requires.
The local authority has also upgraded the roof on its salt barn to ensure that its supply of roughly 4,000 tonnes of salt is kept dry.
Vice-convener of environment and regeneration, Cllr Paul Cassidy, said: ‘Our dedicated teams work around the clock, monitoring weather conditions and treating roads and priority footways whenever required.
‘While no-one can predict exactly what this winter will bring, residents can be assured that we are prepared and ready to respond.
‘I’d also encourage people to take a few moments to prepare themselves for the months ahead, whether that’s planning journeys carefully during adverse weather, checking where local grit bins are located, ensuring their vehicles are ready for winter conditions, or looking out for neighbours who may need extra support during cold spells.’
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Photo: © Amit Godase.
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