West Berkshire's gritters are prepared for the winter season.

The nine-strong fleet, including vehicles named Usain Salt, Sir Gritalot, and Melty Micky, has successfully completed test runs to ensure all equipment is in good working order.

With 2,500 tonnes of salt available at the depot, teams are ready to respond to any wintry weather.
 

(Image: West Berkshire Council)

Last year, gritters covered 11,515 miles and spread over 2,600 tonnes of salt to keep the district's roads safe.

Gritters prioritise salting roads when temperatures are close to freezing, usually before rush hours in the morning and evening.

Real-time data from weather stations across West Berkshire assists in efficiently forecasting and deploying gritters, treating the most crucial routes first.

Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Highways at West Berkshire Council, said: "Our dedicated winter maintenance teams work tirelessly in all weathers to keep our roads safe.

"Preparations like test runs and having salt ready in stock are vital to ensure everything runs smoothly when temperatures drop.

"This is all part of our commitment to keeping West Berkshire moving through winter."

The cost of a precautionary treatment of West Berkshire's primary road network is approximately £2,028, which uses up to 42 tonnes of salt per outing.

While primary roads are treated as a priority, residents are advised to take care on untreated routes and adjust their driving according to road conditions.

Besides gritting, West Berkshire Council is leading a Berkshire-wide initiative with a £225,000 grant to install advanced thermal sensors on roads and vehicles.

This new technology is expected to help make more precise decisions about when and where to grit, ultimately reducing costs and lowering carbon emissions in the coming years.

Over 446 salt bins are available across the district for residents to use on public roads and paths during icy weather.

However, the salt should not be used on private properties such as driveways or private footpaths.

Footways, including pavements and cycleways, are only treated during times of consistent ice or snow.