Huge salt delivery to city for gritting roads and pavements

29 September 2020

A huge 2,500 tonne delivery of salt has arrived in Aberdeen which will help to grit the city’s 560 miles of roads and 1,242 miles of pavements this winter.

The delivery came from Cleveland in North Yorkshire via a 5,000-tonne boat landing at the city’s harbour where it was then taken to the main salt depot at Bucksburn and at also to Tullos.

The salt stock will be topped up with regular programmed deliveries throughout winter.

Aberdeen City Council’s gritting team ensure almost half of the city’s roads and the city’s busiest pavement on Union Street are treated before 7.30am.

Residents are reminded that our gritters cannot be everywhere at the same time so gritting routes on roads and pavements are prioritised, and we are doing with the best we can in difficult or severe weather conditions.

Aberdeen City Council transport spokesperson Councillor Sandra Macdonald said: “It was fascinating standing at the dockside watching all that salt being unloaded onto lorries to top up the salt stocks in our two main depots.

“Once again we all hope that the oncoming winter will be a moderate one however it is reassuring that our gritting teams are getting prepared with tonnes of salt ready to be loaded onto gritters.

“Our staff go above and beyond to ensure the city’s key roads and pavements are kept gritted in line with the agreed prioritisation routes.”

Current salt stocks are greater than the total salt used in any one of the last two winters which means that in the event of a similar mild winter, there should be adequate supply. There is a potential risk that the coronavirus pandemic could result in supply issues for salt and other winter maintenance supplies.

However, should it be a harsh winter, the current salt stocks may not be adequate so salt levels will be kept topped up. If salt supplies are limited, treating non-strategic routes may have to be restricted to keep traffic flowing along main roads and to allow access to buildings such as our main hospitals.

There are also several ways people can be community-minded and salt roads and pavements if they are not on a main route. There are currently more than 900 salt bins throughout the city and people can also apply for 1 tonne salt bags for community use – the 2020/21 salt bags scheme is to be launched in the coming weeks. Additional small bags will be provided to help distribute the salt in the community. There will be a cut-off date for applications of 1 November.

In addition, there are 20 large capacity grit bins, introduced in late 2018, from which the public can collect salt in locations such as supermarket or community centre car parks.

More information on gritting can be found at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/winter.

PIX CAPTIONS:

NUMBER 1871-Cllr MacDonald

NUMBER 1919-Cllr MacDonald with l-R Kevin Massie (ACC Roads), Cllr MacDonald, Iain Campbell ( Aberdeen Roads ltd- Balfour Beatty), Neale Burrows (ACC Roads)

NUMBER 1954+- Crane fills the hopper waiting for the next truck