No delays on roads as gritters got to work

4:53pm Monday 21st January 2013 in Local News

All clear - The A127 today free of snow All clear - The A127 today free of snow

LESSONS  appear to have been learnt as thousands of motorists enjoyed ice-free roads on the way to work.

The big freeze finally arrived in Essex as heavy snowfall and blizzards swept across the county on Sunday.

Drivers enjoyed stress free commutes as gritters went out in full force to clear the roads of snow and ice ahead of the Monday morning rush hour.

This comes just over a month after the county’s road network ground to a halt following heavy snowfall, as a lack of gritting caused severe delays and several accidents.

County councillor Derrick Louis, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “I am very pleased with the gritting teams. They have done an extremely good job day and night keeping the roads clear and the feedback from residents has been very positive.

“Unfortunately things were not the same last time. The difference this time is that the snow had been been forecast and when it came last time it came during the morning peak which made it very difficult for our gritters to get out.

“At the end of the winter period we will be carrying out a formal review of how things have gone, and if there are any lessons to be learnt they will be incorporated into next year. Until then, we have a very health stock of grit and our gritters will continue to go out when required.”

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More than 60 gritting lorries from Essex highways went out in full force during the weekend, treating the roads five times on Sunday and again early Monday morning and afternoon.

Snow ploughs were also used to clear roads, with local famers assisting in some areas.

Southend Council also sent out gritters as well as quad bikes to clear key pavements.

Steven Crowther, Southend Council’s group manager for waste and environmental care, said: “Guided by the predicted weather forecast, we undertook precautionary gritting on our main road network and pedestrian shopping areas, so when the snow arrived, the road gritters were already out working.

“All cleansing crews were redeployed to clear snow manually to support the mechanical operations. Good preparation is the key to tackling snow successfully.

“All staff engaged with these operations worked throughout the weekend to ensure that our highway network remained open and we also deployed additional resources over the weekend too.

“We would like to specially thank the teams and crews involved, for working such long hours to make the roads safe.”

Both authorities said they would be keeping a close eye on upcoming forecasts as weather experts predict the wintery conditions will continue for another four days.

Information and advice on how to cope with the snow is available at www.essex.gov.uk/winter and www.southend.gov.uk/winter

Comments (10)

5:35pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Nebs says...

Everything in the garden is rosy.

http://www.southend.
gov.uk/info/200009/p
erformance/1387/ache
ivements_in_meeting_
our_priorities_for_2
01112/1
Everything in the garden is rosy. http://www.southend. gov.uk/info/200009/p erformance/1387/ache ivements_in_meeting_ our_priorities_for_2 01112/1 Nebs

6:55pm Mon 21 Jan 13

j-w says...

it has more to do with when it snows rather than how good the gritting is. a quiet Sunday roads get cleared no problems but at 7 am on a weekday morning and its going to be a bad driving day
it has more to do with when it snows rather than how good the gritting is. a quiet Sunday roads get cleared no problems but at 7 am on a weekday morning and its going to be a bad driving day j-w

7:30pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Max Impact says...

There is a very small window for gritting to be fully efective, too early and it gets washed away by cars too late and it just sits on the snow doing little, you have to take into account the traffic and of cause what roads are you going to do, it is anoying when you get wallys who expect every road and every path to be done, yes it would be possible but you will soon run out of grit/rock salt and need to buy more at probably an increased price and what if the roads between your dept and the facility you buy it from is closed because it has not been gritted...
There is a very small window for gritting to be fully efective, too early and it gets washed away by cars too late and it just sits on the snow doing little, you have to take into account the traffic and of cause what roads are you going to do, it is anoying when you get wallys who expect every road and every path to be done, yes it would be possible but you will soon run out of grit/rock salt and need to buy more at probably an increased price and what if the roads between your dept and the facility you buy it from is closed because it has not been gritted... Max Impact

8:31pm Mon 21 Jan 13

soul man says...

you watch the council tax go up to pay for it, beware a wolf in sheeps clothing, theres an underlying scheme going on here, 2 yrs ago we had a fair bit of snow on a saturday aft, the place was a mess for 3 days, so whats different now, or, have they realised that it has to be done asap at long last, its only taken 20 odd yrs to suss it out, its all about money, if we get more snow, they wont clear the rds as much next time, they wont spend too much twice
you watch the council tax go up to pay for it, beware a wolf in sheeps clothing, theres an underlying scheme going on here, 2 yrs ago we had a fair bit of snow on a saturday aft, the place was a mess for 3 days, so whats different now, or, have they realised that it has to be done asap at long last, its only taken 20 odd yrs to suss it out, its all about money, if we get more snow, they wont clear the rds as much next time, they wont spend too much twice soul man

10:42pm Mon 21 Jan 13

emcee says...

Well I live in Southend on a main road which is a bus route and gritting route. This road was never gritted.
Well I live in Southend on a main road which is a bus route and gritting route. This road was never gritted. emcee

8:07am Tue 22 Jan 13

Nebs says...

Max Impact wrote:
There is a very small window for gritting to be fully efective, too early and it gets washed away by cars too late and it just sits on the snow doing little, you have to take into account the traffic and of cause what roads are you going to do, it is anoying when you get wallys who expect every road and every path to be done, yes it would be possible but you will soon run out of grit/rock salt and need to buy more at probably an increased price and what if the roads between your dept and the facility you buy it from is closed because it has not been gritted...
I would have expected the section of footpath immediately outside the hospital on Prittlewell Chase to have been gritted.
[quote][p][bold]Max Impact[/bold] wrote: There is a very small window for gritting to be fully efective, too early and it gets washed away by cars too late and it just sits on the snow doing little, you have to take into account the traffic and of cause what roads are you going to do, it is anoying when you get wallys who expect every road and every path to be done, yes it would be possible but you will soon run out of grit/rock salt and need to buy more at probably an increased price and what if the roads between your dept and the facility you buy it from is closed because it has not been gritted...[/p][/quote]I would have expected the section of footpath immediately outside the hospital on Prittlewell Chase to have been gritted. Nebs

1:22pm Tue 22 Jan 13

EthanEdwards says...

Agreed Essex C did good this time. My 75mile commute to Colchester was a breeze. Thanks guys.
Agreed Essex C did good this time. My 75mile commute to Colchester was a breeze. Thanks guys. EthanEdwards

3:34pm Tue 22 Jan 13

emcee says...

EthanEdwards wrote:
Agreed Essex C did good this time. My 75mile commute to Colchester was a breeze. Thanks guys.
SBC on the other hand seem to have been a little lack lustre.
[quote][p][bold]EthanEdwards[/bold] wrote: Agreed Essex C did good this time. My 75mile commute to Colchester was a breeze. Thanks guys.[/p][/quote]SBC on the other hand seem to have been a little lack lustre. emcee

4:11pm Tue 22 Jan 13

jolllyboy says...

Gritting on Eastwood Rd North and Elmsleigh Drive were not gritted as at 10 am on sunday. bus route too.

Get a grip on the grit.!
Gritting on Eastwood Rd North and Elmsleigh Drive were not gritted as at 10 am on sunday. bus route too. Get a grip on the grit.! jolllyboy

8:08am Thu 24 Jan 13

Max Impact says...

So if you are nor happy with the gritting why not submit a Tender to take over the operation? See how well you can do it, prove me wrong that you can do it better, bet you find an excuse not to!
So if you are nor happy with the gritting why not submit a Tender to take over the operation? See how well you can do it, prove me wrong that you can do it better, bet you find an excuse not to! Max Impact

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