11/1/2010 - Public urged to be cautious as thaw begins : Cumbria County Council

Temperatures in Cumbria began to rise above freezing level over the weekend for the first time since Christmas, but Cumbria County Council is still urging drivers and pedestrians to be cautious on potentially hazardous journeys.

The thaw is causing a smooth watery film to form on top of partially melted snow and ice, which is potentially more slippy than the crunchy, icy surfaces experienced during the freezing conditions. Freezing conditions are also predicted tonight.

Cumbria County Council will continue to treat priority one and two roads as well as pedestrian footways in some areas of the county's larger towns with salt and grit when necessary, in accordance with its stated winter maintenance policy. As with previous winters, it does not treat all roads and pavements in the county.

A helpful guide and some frequently asked questions on how the county council carries out winter maintenance is available at:

http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/snow/grittingfaqs.asp

http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/highways-pavements/highway-maintenance/wintermaintenance/roadswinter.asp

The county council is also keen to dispel some myths that have been circulating about the potential liability people could face if they grit public highways and pavements. There have been reports that shopkeepers have been reluctant to grit areas outside their own shop fronts for fear that they are then assuming the liability for maintaining that area and could be sued if a pedestrian slips and falls. The law is clear that there is no liability for people who help grit areas unless it is in a completely negligent manner and in a reckless fashion. Cumbria County Council encourages the public to use the 9,500 salt heaps and grit bins dotted around the county to help keep the public highways safe and usable.

The county council's fleet of 30 gritters have been continuing their runs this afternoon as more freezing temperatures are predicted overnight. Cumbria County Council's stocks of rock salt are currently standing at around 1,300 tonnes after deliveries of essential rock salt began arriving today under Government supply measures being put in place nationally. Further supplies will continue to be co-ordinated by the Department for Transport.

The county council still has around 2,000 tonnes of industrial salt that can be mixed with small rock particles to form a salty grit. Further supplies of industrial salt are being sourced and Cumbria is in daily contact with the Department for Transport as rock salt stocks are monitored nationally. The county council is confident that its priority one and two routes will still be treated with salt and grit.

Third priority routes and minor roads with salt heaps and grit bins on them are continuing to be treated with sea washed stone chippings from a local Cumbrian supplier. The small fragments of rock are helping vehicles to gain some traction on the roads compacted with snow and ice.

The council's highways service and its fleet of gritters and road maintenance vehicles have now completed a replenishment of all the county's 9,500 salt heaps and grit bins with the salty grit mixture –but with high demand levels it's possible that they will empty again very quickly.

The county council is liaising with parish and district councils to further replenish salt and grit stocks. Anyone wishing to request more supplies for a grit bin or salt heap can contact their parish council or the Highways Hotline.

The county council is urging people to think of everyone in their community and use stocks sensibly on public highways rather than private property.

Drivers are advised to follow this checklist before going out:

All lights clean and working, washer bottle full (use a little window antifreeze).

Clean mirrors and windows inside and out.

Tyres at the right pressure with plenty of tread.

Battery fully charged and topped up.

Full tank of petrol so that the engine and heater can keep running if the vehicle becomes stuck.

Your journey - don't take risks:

Watch the weather forecast and try to use gritted roads.

Don’t use roads which are closed - you will put yourself and others in danger and abandoned vehicles hamper snow clearance.

Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive.

Do not use a mobile phone while driving. Stop somewhere safe or ask a passenger to make the call.

Your survival kit - keep these things in your car:

Thick jumper, warm coat, boots, thick gloves, blanket, mobile phone, hot drink in a flask, energy boosting food, cloth, pen, good torch and a shovel.

If possible, include a tow rope, jump leads, some sand and a solid wooden board for the jack. If you have to leave your vehicle to get help, make sure other drivers can see you.

For winter maintenance purposes, Cumbria’s road network is divided into first, second and third priority routes. First priority routes are gritted within three hours, second priority routes are gritted within five hours and third priority routes are gritted only during periods of prolonged icy conditions and when the first and second priority roads are clear.

Third priority routes tend to be more minor routes in rural areas and account for around a third of the county’s highways network.

Cumbria has a network of nine depots, 30 gritters and around operating around the county. Cumbria Highways winter maintenance teams are on call 24 hours a day during high season and operate from a series of depots across the county.

For more information on Cumbria's winter maintenance programme including details on how quickly routes are gritted and which roads are given priority visit http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport

Cumbria Highways is the partnership between Cumbria County Council, Capita Symonds, Amey and Connect Roads that maintains and improves Cumbria’s road network.