Residents reminded to apply for a free one-tonne community salt bag – before Monday 1 November

22 October 2021

Residents across Aberdeen were today reminded they have a week left apply for a free one-tonne community salt bag to treat icy roads and pavements in their neighbourhood during the winter months.

The colder weather this week is a prompt that winter is fast coming and the deadline for applying for the one-tonne community salt bags is 12midnight on Sunday 31 October.

The scheme is designed to help communities help themselves when winter starts and in addition, there will again be big community salt bins in strategic locations around the city.

Aberdeen City Council operational delivery committee convener Councillor Philip Bell said: "Our teams have been preparing for winter weather for several weeks and the colder weather this week is a timely reminder that winter is not far away.

“We have a dedicated workforce of 90 people to cover 24/7 operations on our roads and pavements and they do their best under challenging conditions, often going above and beyond their duty to keep the city moving. Almost half of the city’s roads and the city’s busiest pavement on Union Street are treated before 7.30am.

“Unfortunately, though, our staff can't be everywhere all the time - there are 560 miles of roads in Aberdeen, slightly more than the distance from the city to London, and there are 1,242 miles of pavements which is the distance from here to Rome.

“As always, we hope there won’t be a harsh winter but it’s good for everyone in our communities to be as prepared as possible we have created as many opportunities as possible to enable communities to help themselves and help their neighbours.”

The one-tonne community salt bags, like the salt provided in grit bins, will be for use only on public areas. A secure and accessible area, like a driveway or garage, would have to be available for storing the one-tonne community salt bags.

Any groups which would like a one-tonne bag should do so via One-tonne salt bags | Aberdeen City Council before 12midnight on Sunday 31 October. The community salt bags are delivered free of charge, are replaced as necessary, and are removed at the end of winter. People who have applied already need not re-apply and they will be contacted over the coming weeks about whether their application is successful.

The locations for the big community salt bins are Bridge of Don (Laurel Drive), Garthdee (Asda car park – next to recycling facilities), Torry (Girdleness Road), Union Row, Crown Terrace (next to bins), Justice Street (next to recycling bins), Seaton Drive (car park on entry to Seaton Walk), Regent Court (car park), Northfield (Byron Square), Hilton (at the top of Anderson Road, next to Stewart Park), Rosemount (Leadside Road), Kingswells Park & Ride (next to recycling point and bins), Craibstone Park & Ride (west car park), Bridge of Don Park & Ride (next to recycling point and bins), Countesswells Road, Dyce (Asda car park-next to recycling facilities), Fernhill Drive (near Fernhill Road), Johnston Gardens North (At turning area), Tillydrone (Pennan Road – beside Library).

More information about gritting routes and winter maintenance from Aberdeen City Council is available from www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/winter.