Derbyshire County Council puts snowploughs on standby as Storm Goretti closes in

Issuing an amber weather warning for overnight conditions, the Met Office has warned of up to 30 centimetres of snowfall, particularly across the Peak District and other high ground.

Council gritting vehicles have been out all around the county in recent days to stave off the risk of hazardous ice on roads, but they are now preparing to step up their response if necessary.

Councillor Charlotte Hill, cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, said: “We’ve plenty of grit, and will order more as we need it. Our gritting teams are prepared and have the right amount of employees in place.

“We are gearing up for some more severe weather that is forecast for later in the week. If we get snow then our gritters will be fitted with snowploughs, and more staff will be brought on board.”

Authorities elsewhere have faced questions over gritting policy during the recent cold snap, and the Derbyshire Times is aware of anecdotal reader concerns locally, but Cllr Hill insists that officers are doing all they can to keep the county moving safely.

Issues experienced in recent days may have been due to the fact that gritting becomes less effective in extended periods of very low temperatures.

According to previously published figures, DCC has made no cuts to its winter maintenance budget, this year set at £3.97m including a £2million contingency fund to be used if conditions demand it.

Last winter the authority says it spent £2.94m − overspending the original £1.97m £970,000 – of which £429,000 was spent on 13,000 tonnes of grit.

That covers a gritting strategy for 47 per cent of the county’s roads as a precaution. Highways England is responsible for clearing A38, A628, A50, while a team of farmer contractors and snow wardens pitch in to ensure access to more remote villages, industrial areas and schools which are off the busiest parts of the network.

DCC stores around 28,000 tonnes of grit in depots around the county at any time, with 26 vehicles and 150 staff work around the clock to spread it.

Cllr Hill said: “From the beginning of November until the end of April we have gritting teams on standby 24/7. Every day our officers check our specialist weather stations and forecasts and decide what gritting actions we need to take.

“We’d ask the public to always drive to the conditions, and allow plenty of time for their journeys.”

For more details of DCC’s winter preparations, including information on volunteering as a community snow warden, go to tinyurl.com/DCCsnowinfo.

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