Residents urged get a free community salt bag – before 1 November
27 September 2019
Residents across Aberdeen were today encouraged to get a free community salt bag which they can use to treat icy roads and pavements in their neighbourhood with a deadline for applying of 1 November.
The scheme is designed to help communities help themselves when winter starts and in addition, there will again be big community salt in strategic locations around the city.
Salt for the scheme has again been donated by award-winning smoked salmon producer John Ross Jr. The move provides the City Council with ready access to a cleaner salt than previously used and means it no longer needs to buy salt for the community bags.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: "Preparations for the winter have been underway for weeks and we have a dedicated workforce of 90 people to cover 24/7 operations on our roads and pavements.
“Our team do their best under challenging conditions and often go above and beyond their duty to keep the city moving, but unfortunately 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.
"As we implement our plans to keep the city moving during wintry spells, we have worked hard to create as many opportunities as possible to enable communities to help themselves and help their neighbours.
“The self-help one-tonne community salt bags scheme has been very popular and this year we have an early cut-off date for people to apply for them, so that the council has time to ensure they are delivered in time. The community salt bins, which were introduced last year, gives people another chance to support the wider efforts.
“Obviously, we hope there won’t be a harsh winter but it’s good for everyone in our communities to be as prepared as possible.”
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 email winter@aberdeencity.gov.uk or phone 03000 200 292 before 1 November. The community salt bags are delivered free of charge, are replaced as necessary, and are removed at the end of winter.
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 winter maintenance from Aberdeen City Council is available from www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/winter/