We are ready for bad winter weather, Dorset Council says

Dorset Council's highway team has 90 members of staff ready for on call duties

A council has invested in new gritting vehicles in a bid to keep Dorset's roads clear this winter.

Dorset Council said its highway team had prepared for bad weather, with 90 members of staff ready for on call duties and 13,000 tonnes of rock salt.

It also said its new vehicles would be more efficient, with modern engines that had increased fuel economy.

Highways and travel cabinet member Ray Bryan said: "Whatever the coming months bring, we are ready."

Last winter, Dorset's gritting crews were called out 170 times over 148 days, using 5,615 tonnes of salt, which was double the number of call outs compared to 2021-2022.

The highway teams covers 684 miles of roads across 23 main gritting routes, which are treated when road surface temperatures are expected to drop below 1C.

They also serve community routes, such as small villages and hamlets, so people can continue to travel during prolonged cold spells.

Mr Bryan said: "Our dedicated highways crews step away from their regular roles when the temperatures fall to keep residents, businesses, and emergency services moving and as safe as possible.

"Last winter was particularly busy, so we're hoping temperatures don't drop so regularly this year, but whatever the coming months bring, we are ready."

He urged drivers to take care when out in bad weather saying "conditions can change quickly".

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