£2.5 million winter plan approved for Surrey roads

An action plan to keep Surrey moving in severe winter weather was approved today.

More than £2.5 million is being spent on a programme that includes using more than 40 specialist vehicles, hi-tech monitoring equipment, weather stations and 16,000 tonnes of grit to prepare for the winter ahead.  

At a meeting of Surrey County Council’s Cabinet, the Winter Service Plan was given the green light. Highlights include:

• Providing 39 gritters fitted with location trackers and salt spreading monitors
• Installing six weather stations providing real-time updates on air and road temperature, rainfall and salt and ice levels
•  Preparing more than 1,800 roadside salt bins across Surrey by October
• Extending a trial of alternative vehicles like quad bikes in the winter clear-up
• Having a standby team of 51 farmers to give extra support in less accessible areas.

In a separate decision, the council has also put aside £5 million extra into repairing the 200 roads in most need of fixing from cold weather damage.

John Furey, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We prepared well last year and have repeated that preparation this year.”