Council rations grit as supplies run low

GRIT supplies are expected to last until after the weekend due to councillors restricting treatment to A and B roads.

Staffordshire County Council yesterday said it had around 2,000 tonnes of grit left and had to wait for nationally-coordinated supplies.

Jeremy Herbert, communications manager at Staffordshire County Council, said: "Without restrictions in place on an average night, we would use 800 to 1,000 tonnes of grit. By restricting gritting to A and B roads, this is reduced to 400 or 500 tonnes.

"If we stuck to our normal routes, then supplies would have lasted a day or two.

"We are now approaching the weekend. Putting the restrictions in place will allow us to survive until a new delivery next week."

Mr Herbert said councillors were meeting everyday to analyse weather forecasts, marshal crews and resources, plan operations and look at future salt supplies.

He said: "We are expecting much of the same weather over the next few days. We are expecting drier weather in the day but lows of -4°C and -5°C at night.

"This means there is a real danger of black ice and we would encourage motorists to take care especially when not on A and B roads."

Police yesterday decided to close three roads in Harriseahead, Audley and http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/mytownstafford">Stafford after patrols revealed they were too dangerous to drive on.

Long Lane in Harriseahead was shut between the Stadmorslow Lane junction and the Chapel Lane junction. It was reopened at lunchtime.

Tixall Road in http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/mytownstafford">Stafford was closed between the A518 Weston Road junction and the Holdiford Road junction.

Alsager Road was closed between the A500 junction and the B5500 Nantwich Road junction in Audley.