'Immediate' pothole repairs in Surrey after heavy snow

Heavy snow fell across Surrey last week leading to warnings to motorists not to use treacherous roads

Immediate action is being taken to repair potholes caused by snow and ice in Surrey last week, the county council has said.

Highways teams have been inspecting major roads for damage and repairing the worst potholes straight away.

About 1,500 grit bins across the county are also being refilled.

Councillor Ian Lake said road maintenance teams would try to get to all potholes as soon as possible and urged residents to report them as well.

The transport spokesman also urged people to use the grit bins to treat local roads and paths if there was another severe cold snap, and said such actions would be a "huge benefit" to communities.

Extra salt ordered

During the latest cold weather snap, 36 gritters worked day and night to treat more than 16,000 miles of roads and spread 4,000 tonnes of salt, he said.

The council ordered 50% more salt this year, Mr Lake added.

Extra salt supplies, totalling 2,300 tonnes, are now being delivered to the county with the first delivery next week and the others in January.

Mr Lake said the Highways Agency gritted motorways and major roads including the M25, M3, A3, A23 and A30. Surrey County Council is responsible for the rest of the routes in the county.

Heavy snow fell across Surrey last week in what was the earliest widespread snowfall for the UK since 1993.

At least 225 schools in the county were closed because of the conditions, the East Surrey Hospital had to appeal for help from 4x4 drivers and motorists were warned not to drive on treacherous roads.