East Riding Winter Services Briefing Note

The Season

November to March each year, weather and road conditions are monitored 24 hours a day

Staff

51 drivers work on three shifts, week on, week off. 25 ERYC and 26 agency.

Staff from Environmental Services assist in footway salting

40 Contractors assist with snow clearance when required.

Area Office staff monitor the weather during the daytime and controllers monitor during the night.

Two scouts travel around the area relaying to controllers’ local weather conditions at night.

Vehicles

17 Frontline gritters carry out precautionary salting, each can carry 12 tonnes of salt.

4 spare gritters are available in case of breakdowns.

8 towed gritters to assist with housing estates in bad weather conditions.

All gritters are calibrated at the beginning of the season for correct spreading

All frontline gritters have a tracker system fitted.

Material

Rock salt is spread at rates varying between 10gm/m² and 40gm/m²

Between 150/200 tonnes of salt is spread on each precautionary turn out.

Approx.15, 000 tonnes of salt are used a year at £20 per tonne (£300,00 total)

Brine is added to the salt on the routes driven from Market Weighton and Carnaby Depots, this quickens the de-icing process.

Generally salt is only effective when vehicles run on it to start the de-icing process.

Salt is stored inside at Carnaby and Market Weighton and outside at Beverley and Hedon Depots.

Depots

We work from 4 depots, Carnaby (3 routes), Market Weighton (6 routes), Beverley (5 routes) and Hedon (3 routes)

Routes

17 precautionary routes are salted, total length 1,250 km or 38% of total ERYC road network.

9 secondary routes are salted, total length 430km or 12% of total ERYC network,

NB secondary routes are only treated when all precautionary routes are completed and during extended periods of sub zero temperatures.

In total approx. 51% of ERYC roads may be treated during adverse weather conditions

All “A” and “B” class roads are treated. Routes approved by Council.

Routes are approx. 72% efficient

When

Precautionary routes are treated in anticipation of ice and snow. Generally when temperatures are at +2⁰ C and falling.

Secondary routes are treated when resources are available, only when all precautionary routes are completed and during extended periods of sub zero temperatures.

Strategic Footways are salted when temperatures are anticipated to remain below 0⁰ C after mid day and when resources are available.

Footpaths

Strategic footways may be salted in 16 separate locations (see when above)

At:-

Anlaby, Beverley, Bridlington, Bridlington(Old Town), Brough, Cottingham, Driffield, Goole, Hedon, Hessle, Hornsea, Howden, Market Weighton, Pocklington, Willerby, Withernsea.

Time

All precautionary routes should be completed in 3 hours of starting

Turn Outs

The Council turns out an average of 65/70 times a year to salt it’s precautionary routes.

Salt Boxes

In excess of 700 salt boxes and piles are sited throughout the East Riding, these are normally reserved for non precautionary treated locations and where there are related safety issues, junctions, bend, inclines etc.

Two schemes for provision are available, ERYC and Parish/Town Council funded.

Legislation

Legislation requires Highways (roads, footpaths, cycle ways) to be kept clear of ice and snow, where reasonably practicable.

ERYC maintains a robust plan and winter service, providing the delivery is in accordance with these it is believed that a suitable defence of litigation can be sustained.

Budget

Total annual winter budget (2004/05)for ERYC is £1,305,360