Council "ready for winter"

Rotherham Borough Council said it had the rock salt stockpiled in its purpose-built salt barn at its Hellaby depot.

It has ten gritters which are ready to be sent out to cover more than 300 miles of the borough’s busiest roads if wintry conditions are forecast.

Karen Hanson, the council’s assistant director for community safety and Street Scene, said: “Once the priority routes are clear, we make every effort to respond to individual requests for assistance received from residents.

“As well as clearing the roads, we also have hand-salting teams on hand to clear snow and ice from areas where people are most at risk such as near schools, sheltered housing and busier footways.

“In the event of severe snowfall, we’d urge motorists to only travel when it’s absolutely necessary. 

“Our gritting crews need time to do their job as well as space. 

“If everyone is trying to drive when it starts to snow, then the spreaders and snowploughs cannot do their job properly.” 

A team of 40 drivers are on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week between November and March.

For more information follow the council’s Twitter feed @RMBCPress or #SYGrit.