Winter service policy approved for Highland Council roads
16th August 2018
The Winter Service Policy for The Highland Council this coming winter 2018/19 has been approved by Members of the Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.
The Council's policy relates to clearing and gritting of Highland Council adopted roads, cycle ways, footways and footpaths.
Members have agreed that a standard weekend service will be introduced to the Council Winter Service Policy, with the same service level being provided on both days. At present, 100% of roads may be treated on a Saturday with approximately 33% treated on a Sunday. The new weekend service will be applied where up to 65% of the network may be treated on both a Saturday and Sunday.
Members also agreed that options on the budget for the winter service are included in any public engagement undertaken for the Council's budget from 2019/20 onwards.
Councillors noted the actions being taken by Community Services to improve the Council’s Winter Service including the creation of a new salt store at Lochinver Harbour which is now ready for operation. Plans for other salt store depots at Strontian, Lochcarron and Sconser are also being evaluated.
Test trials of applying brine on a rural route in Badenoch and Strathspey and urban route in Inverness is planned for this winter and Members will be informed of the trial results at a future committee.
New for this winter, the Council hopes to make available a ‘live tracking’ facility on the council’s website so that the public can see where the council’s fleet of gritters are in operation. Members were informed that Community Services are in discussion with their vehicle tracking supplier to bring this system online.
Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee said: "I would like to thank Members who took part in the winter service review for their input and to the community councils who responded to the consultation. I am pleased that we have now set Highland Council’s Winter Service Policy for the coming winter. It is important that we share the message that this is Highland Council’s Policy for the maintenance of Highland Council roads.
"The maintenance of Trunk roads is the responsibility of Transport Scotland and their operators BEAR Scotland (North West) and they have their own separate policies and procedures.
"Members will now set local priorities for local roads at Area Committees working within the constraints and resources available providing that the length of roads treated remains the same."
Highland Council’s Winter Service Policy for 2018/19 will be published on the Council’s website at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Yesterday
Council welcomes Visitor Levy flexibility plan
The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.Yesterday
Highland Council is reaching out for views to shape its next 26/27 budget.
As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people. All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.Yesterday
Have your say in Thurso's future £100million investment by attending public consultation events
Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.2/12/2025
Finding new owners for empty homes - Scheme launched to help return more empty homes to active use
A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".1/12/2025
Consideration for short term let control area in Skye and Raasay
Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee. On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.28/11/2025
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy. Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
27/11/2025
Council calls for meaningful engagement from Home Office Over 300 Asylum Seekers Being Sent to Inverness
The Highland Council continues to call for meaningful engagement from the Home Office over its plans to temporarily accommodate up to 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, Inverness. It follows an email on Monday from Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, to Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, which failed to answer questions raised by the Council or address community concerns.27/11/2025
SSEN Transmission becomes first signatory to Highland Social Value Charter
SSEN Transmission has become the first company to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC), marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands. Investment commitments from the company include funding for roads, new homes, jobs, and work for local contractors in addition to a local and regional fund for communities to apply to.25/11/2025
Wick - Aberdeen PSO - Update issued 24/11/2025
The Highland Council continues to work through the procurement process for the provision of the Wick Public Service Obligation for the Highland Council. We have now entered the preferred bidder stage and have entered a standstill period.25/11/2025
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for 25 November 2025
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting (external link) The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Our Social Media
