Gritters ready to go on Anglesey as temperatures start to drop

With temperatures starting to drop, Anglesey Council is getting its gritters and road salt ready for winter.

The council’s highways service is prepared for the winter months ahead and currently has over 4,000 tonnes of salt in stock – enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools.

It takes around 30 tonnes of salt to treat the 260 miles of Anglesey’s gritting routes. That’s the equivalent to travelling from Amlwch to Cardiff Bay via Birmingham.

Six gritting lorries are deployed when road temperatures hit one degree celsius or below. Last year, Anglesey roads were gritted on 88 days, with the gritters travelling almost 23,000 miles.

The council’s head of service for highways, waste and property, Huw Percy said: “Ensuring the safety of road users during the winter months is a top priority.

“Our gritting fleet is vital in maintaining the winter resilience of our road network and keep Anglesey road users as safe as possible during severe and challenging weather conditions.”

“Based on last year’s weather conditions we have enough salt in stock to grit for almost 130 days if needed.

“We will be monitoring our three weather stations closely from now on to monitor weather conditions and forecasts.”

Highways portfolio holder, Councillor Bob Parry, said; “The gritting team do a great job and when the winter weather arrives our team will be ready to keep our main roads clear and safe.

“We have five routes covered by six gritters, we want everyone to travel safely on our roads and ask that drivers take extra care near gritters, leave a safe distance, overtake gritters carefully when it is safe to do so and only at a reduced speed.

“Motorists should also be careful in cold or bad weather and follow the appropriate guidance.”