Residents are being urged by Derbyshire County Council to use grit wisely to make sure grit bins stay fuller for longer.
There are about 1,760 grit bins in Derbyshire to help keep roads and pavements free from ice.
The county council own and maintain over 800 but in a bid to make sure supplies don’t run out it is reminding people that 40 grams of grit - one heaped tablespoon – is enough to cover a square metre.
The remaining grit bins are owned by town or parish councils who may consider providing a new grit bin where it would provide specific benefits for their local residents.
Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We’re refilling grit bins as fast as we can but we would urge people to try and use a sensible amount so that it can be used to cover as many surfaces as possible.
“We appreciate the hard work local residents are doing in helping to make icy surfaces safe and our gritters are doing their best to make as many roads safe as possible.”
Grit from grit bins is for public use only, so should only be used on public roads, footpaths and pavements.
A video of how to spread grit properly, which explains how you can cover a square metre of ground using just a heaped teaspoon of grit, is available at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/snowcode, where you can also find advice about clearing snow and ice safely.
It also explains how there’s no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces.
Anyone who would like to report a damaged or empty grit bin can text the number on the lid to 86555, report it online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/gritbins or Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058.
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