Gritters ready as snow forecast for the weekend

With temperatures set to drop and snow forecast in Surrey over the weekend, our gritters will be going out spreading salt over the weekend starting at 4am on Saturday morning.

Surrey County Council stockpiled 14,500 tonnes of salt ahead of the winter and has a fleet of 39 gritters to help keep the county moving, while an army of farmers equipped with spreaders and ploughs are ready to step in if the snow gets heavy enough. Surrey 4×4 Response is also be ready to provide support.

Information and advice for residents about dealing with snow can be found on the council’s website.

The latest traffic and travel updates are available on Twitter via @SurreyTravel, while the council’s website has information about buses and school transport.

Individual schools make their own decisions to open or close and parents should contact them directly for more details. All confirmed closures will appear on the council’s website.

Social workers are standing by to visit vulnerable people to make sure they are safe and residents are asked to check on neighbours, friends and family as part of the council’s effort to spread a message of teamwork.

Colin Kemp, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We’re ready to tackle severe weather but if residents support us by looking out for vulnerable neighbours or clearing snow around their home things will be much better for the county as a whole.”

Here are some facts about gritting and the county council’s winter operation:

• More than 14,500 tonnes of salt was stockpiled by the council before winter.
• There are 39 gritters in Surrey’s fleet.
• A typical gritting lorry run covers around 35 miles.
• Roadside weather stations are used to help plan gritting runs.
• Although it’s called grit, what is used on roads is salt.
• Highways England grits motorways and trunk roads in Surrey – for example the M25 and A3.
• There are more than 1,700 grit bins across Surrey.
• More than 50 farmers equipped with ploughs are ready to clear routes.
• Surrey 4×4 Response is standing by to help support vulnerable people.