Richmond Council unveils expanded winter gritting programme

Richmond Council has confirmed it will grit more pavements if snow and ice affect the borough this winter, news which may interest people living in Twickenham.

Streets with steep slopes, such as Richmond Hill, or those which lead to heavily-used places, will be given priority if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

The announcement comes in response to comments in the recent All In One survey, in which the council garnered the opinions of local residents.

It means more of the local authority's 2,000-tonne grit mountain will be used to cover pavements this winter as and when it is required.

The Council will also work with community groups in streets not covered by the gritting programme to discuss helping them to buy a grit bin at cost price.

In order to do this, organisations will need space on private land to site a bin, which would be filled and refilled by the authority.

A total of 200 tonnes of grit has been set aside to help residents and groups as part of this initiative.

Councillor Chris Harrison, cabinet member for highways and street scene, said the last three harsh winters have shown how bad conditions can get in the area and the dire consequences for local individuals business that can ensue.

"We have now taken action to help ensure people can carry on with their daily lives during the winter," he explained. "We will be gritting the roads and pavements which our experience over three harsh winters has shown would benefit most and we're also helping people to make their own preparations.

"There are 400 km of roads in the borough and it would be impossible to grit all of them daily without spending huge amounts of money. No council could do this, but we have listened to residents and we will treat more of the roads which most need it as and when we can."

Posted by  Martyn Glynn

Published 18th October, 2011

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