Gritters head out in Surrey

With temperatures due to plummet, the county council’s fleet of gritting lorries are set to head out on Surrey’s roads tonight for the first time since last winter.

They will be heading out from 7pm after filling up from the council’s 16,000-tonne stockpile of salt.

Ahead of winter, the authority filled more than 1,700 grit bins to help people treat roads and pavements in their local communities.

An army of farmers equipped with ploughs has also been assembled and are standing by ready to tackle any snow and ice in rural areas.

Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways John Furey said: “Our gritters will be out day and night over winter to keep Surrey moving in bad weather and while we’d like to cover every road it’s just not possible with such an extensive network and rising demand for services like adult social care.

“That is why it’s important for people to use grit bins to treat their local roads and pavements for the safety of everyone in their community while also looking out for older and vulnerable neighbours in cold weather.”