A £1 million resilience fund will back up the council’s £2.4m plans, with enough salt to help tackle the harshest winter, West Lothian Council’s Executive heard this week.
Local plans are in place and residents and small businesses are being urged to act now to ensure that they are also prepared to handle the months ahead.
Councillors were told staff are “as ready as they can be”.
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The council has stockpiled 30,000 tonnes of salt, about three times the amount that is needed for a normal winter.
The council also has a significant fleet of vehicles such as gritters, multi-purpose vehicles and mini-tractors. The council has 25 gritters and 29 footpath tractors and 61 roads staff. They can be backed up by a further 64 staff from NETs Land and Countryside teams.
Once again, residents will be able to keep a virtual eye on the council’s team of gritters via the gritter tracker on the council’s website. Route maps are also available on the council’s website along with information on grit bins and self-help information.
The council has put in place a £1 million winter resilience fund which will help provide a small dedicated team to replenish 2,751 grit bins on an ongoing basis which will speed up the time taken to refill bins when they are empty.
However, the council is reminding residents that in severe weather, public grit bins can be emptied within a few hours and it is important to remember that this additional resource will not have the ability to meet that level of demand.
The council will continue to provide 25 self-help salt pick-up points in locations across West Lothian, similar to last year. The fund may also be used to boost the council’s resources should the weather be severe.
Other innovations such as dual weather forecasting for north and south of the county have been successful and have been refined each year.
Residents are urged to purchase their own supply of salt/grit for private use in areas outwith the council`s road and footway network in advance.
Jim Jack, the council’s Head of Operational Services said: “Forward planning means that West Lothian is well-prepared to tackle the impact of severe weather this winter. Other services across the council are also prepared to ensure essential services can still be delivered in the event of severe weather, which can include freezing temperatures, high winds and flooding as well as snow and ice.
"We have trained staff and a significant fleet of vehicles ready to be deployed when necessary. It’s vitally important that all residents take the necessary and proportionate steps to ensure that they are also prepared for winter.”
He added: “We understand the frustration that severe winter weather can bring and the council will always look to assist communities where we can. As a council, we are facing huge budget pressures but we continue to invest heavily in our winter services and further investment has been set aside for our winter services this year.
“We would urge local residents and businesses to take some practical steps to prepare for winter and to look out for one another, especially vulnerable neighbours.”
For all details on your local winter service from West Lothian Council, please visit: www.westlothian.gov.uk/winter
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