Gritters on 24-hour standby from Sunday, and 400 grit bins are yours to use

The council’s winter gritting service starts on Sunday 1 November. Crews and three gritters will be on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the end of March 2027.

Road temperature sensors around the city and detailed forecasts let the teams plan treatments before frost and ice arrive. Around 300 tonnes of grit are in store, with more available in a long cold spell. In a typical winter the council uses around 200 tonnes.

Gritters treat about 156 miles of road. Key bus corridors, major roads, routes to hospitals and the city centre come first. Gritting all the city’s roads would cost the council several million pounds, it says.

Salt has limits. It won’t clear heavy snow, and below about -5°C it has no effect at all.

The city has more than 1,000km of pavement, too much to grit, but there are around 400 public grit bins. The council says residents are welcome to use the salt to clear ice from pavements near their own and their neighbours’ homes. Take a small shovel or container to scoop it out and spread it.

The bins are being checked and topped up before winter. If yours is running low or damaged, you can ask for a refill or repair online.

Councillor Trevor Muten, the cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said: “I’d encourage drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care when conditions are cold and icy so we can all stay safe this winter.”