New Helpline Launched As Council Gears Up For Winter

1st November 2010

The Highland Council has introduced a new roads and street lighting helpline as it gears up for coping with winter. The number is 01349 886601. Staff at the Council's Service Centre will be on hand to respond to calls between 8 am - 6 pm - Monday - Friday and 9 am - noon on a Saturday.

In cases of emergency outwith these times, the public should contact the Council on 0845 769 7284.

The helpline, which also deals with enquiries about street lighting, is a bid to make it easier for the public to contact the Council and relieve pressure on area offices, where staff are directly involved in dealing with flooding, gritting and snow clearing.

At the same time the Council has ensured that its store of salt supplies has been replenished. A total of 42,000 tonnes of salt is now in storage at 40 depots across the Highlands. The capacity should increase to 52,000 tonnes by the end of November. The biggest supply is at the Longman, Inverness, where 9,000 tonnes is available

Last winter the Council used a total of 85,000 tonnes of salt in what was considered to be the most severe winter for many years.

The Council buys its salt from Salt Sales, Northern Ireland, and supplies arrive by boat at Highland ports.

The Council will endeavour to provide the same level of gritting and snow clearing service as in previous years.

First priority is given to main routes and these will be serviced between 6 am and 9 pm Monday - Saturday. Second priority is given to other strategic routes, including bus routes, which will be serviced from 6am - 9 pm Monday - Saturday.

Third priority applies to urban streets and school bus routes and will be serviced between 6 am - 9pm Monday - Saturday. The fourth priority applies to the other routes from 8 am - 6 pm Monday - Saturday as resources allow, with difficult and steep route being treated first.

On a Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, gritting will only take place on priority one routes, service bus routes and main urban streets between 7 am - 9 pm.

Neil Gillies, Director of Transport Environment and Community Services, said: "At this time of year, we urge motorists to be aware of the dangers of sudden changes in weather and the hidden dangers of black ice and to prepare themselves and their vehicles before they travel. From now until the end of March, the Council monitors roads and weather conditions for the need to treat ice and snow conditions on local roads. It is not possible to treat every road at the same time, so priority routes have been established."

He said the Council would like to encourage self-help in adverse conditions and to this end would like to encourage motorists who may have to travel on snowy roads before they are cleared, to consider fitting winter tyres. He also encouraged property owners to clear the snow from the footway in front of their own premises.

Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the Transport Environment and Community Services Committee, said: "We are already seeing the first signs of winter and, with the clocks going back, it is time to alert the public to be vigilant on the roads. Our new helpline should make it easier for people to contact us during normal working hours. It will certainly improve the way we deal with and record the enquiries we receive. It is also important to assure the public that we have a large store of salt to tackle wintry conditions and arrangements are in place to order more when we need it."