As the winter weather has well and truly arrived in Hertfordshire – with the potential for snow at the weekend – highway maintenance contractor Ringway and Herts County Council have been gearing up for the gritting season ahead.
We took a trip to the Ringway grit depot at Stevenage’s Coreys Mill to see the gritters in action – with temperatures expected to fall below freezing tonight.
Councillor Ralph Sangster, Herts County Council’s executive member for highways, said: Councillor Ralph Sangster, Herts County Council’s executive member for highways, said: “We have 58 gritting lorries ready to go out at any one time and when we go out we do about 1,400 miles of highway – that’s the equivalent of driving from Hertford to Berlin and all the way back again – so that gives you an idea of the scale of the work.
“We try to go out during the off-peak periods – at night or afternoons – but of course that’s not always the case because if we’re getting a sharp frost in the mornings or evenings we’re going out there and gritting the road to keep it safe.”
When asked how drivers can keep safe during the winter months, Mr Sangster said: “Everyone should drive safely and appropriately for the conditions.
“That means more slowly and in a higher gear, making sure they know their route to keep out of trouble.”
Motorists may need to heed that warning sooner rather than later – with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning of snow for Herts between 4am and midnight on Sunday, and a wind warning for much of the day as well.
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