East Renfrewshire Council’s winter maintenance service is now in operation, with gritting crews on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The service began on 26th October and will run until mid-April.
The council has built up stocks of up to 4,500 tonnes of grit and has a fleet of 10 gritting vehicles ready for deployment. Tractors are also available to treat higher ground when required.
Crews have carried out practice runs in recent weeks to test vehicles and review routes.
The council maintains more than 295 miles of gritting routes across East Renfrewshire.
Under normal winter conditions, treatment is prioritised on A and B roads, access routes to fire stations, key bus routes and at least one bus-access route serving schools with dedicated school transport.
During severe weather, such as heavy snowfall or freezing rain, operations may be adjusted to focus on keeping the main road network moving.
Winter controllers monitor conditions using forecasts from specialist weather services at least three times a day, alongside data from roadside sensors.
When frost, ice or snow is predicted, precautionary salting is carried out on priority routes covering 171 miles of road. This represents more than 56% of East Renfrewshire’s road network.
The council also has 330 grit bins and 17 community grit bins, providing free salt for treating pavements and driveways during icy conditions.
Councillor Danny Devlin, convener for environment and housing, said: “As we head into the winter months, our teams are ready to respond around the clock to help keep East Renfrewshire’s roads safe and accessible.
“Our gritter drivers, winter controllers and support staff play a vital role throughout the season, often working in difficult conditions to ensure priority routes can be treated when frost, ice or snow is forecast.
“We also encourage residents to make use of grit bins in their local area and to look out for neighbours who may need a helping hand during periods of severe weather.
“I’d like to thank all of our staff for their dedication and hard work. Their efforts make a real difference to communities across East Renfrewshire every winter.”