Winter on the Roads

Cheshire East Council grits major roads where there is a risk of ice, along with clearing snow on these routes. They do this to keep key routes safe and minimise delays as much as possible during the winter months. They treat pavements only when snow or ice is present and is likely to persist, and as resources are available. Priority is given to pavements that carry the greatest number of pedestrians (such as shopping areas and outside hospitals or schools) and pavements of gradients steeper than 10%.

In other areas salt bins are provided so that the community can treat areas of the highway network that are not on gritting routes but may still be at risk of ice.

Salt bins are generally restocked before and during the winter, dependent on prevailing weather conditions.

However do check you nearest bin and if it is empty you can report this to CEC online by entering the location and selecting winter.

Please only use the salt provided for public roads and pavements as it would be impossible for the Council to provide enough for everyone’s paths and driveways.

It is widely available in DIY stores and supermarkets for personal use.

Tips for Effective use of Grit and Salt

1. Preventative gritting
   Preventative gritting is the most economical and effective way of keeping footpaths and roads clear. If you wait until snow has fallen before you start to grit, then it’s already too late. Afterwards, when it’s already slippery, you will need twice as much salt to get the same result. To keep your surface snow-free, it’s best to spread the road salt over the road surface or pavement before it starts to snow. So keep an eye on the weather forecast or your weather app!
2. Clearing snow
   Have you been caught off guard by an unexpected snow shower and your surface is already covered in snow? In this case, it’s a good idea to clear the snow before you grit. By doing this, you will get the maximum from the quantity of road salt that you use.
3. Spread the road salt evenly
   A handful of road salt for every square metre is usually sufficient. Also, make sure that you spread the road salt evenly over the entire surface rather than in thick dollops. If it is the road you are gritting vehicles driving over it will help disperse it and make it more effective.

More information:
There is a lot of useful winter information on the Cheshire East Council Website such as

• When, where and they we grit
• Salt bins and salt bags
• Snow clearing advice (read more on the Snow Code)