by Paul Francis

Kent County Council is all set to keep the county’s roads clear and transport moving ahead of the first forecasts of winter snow.

Gritting lorries have already been out this week as temperatures fell and roads became icy.

The authority insists that it has learned lessons from last year’s severe winter and is better prepared in the wake of some criticisms of the way it managed operations.

The council has stockpiled 23,000 tonnes and a fleet of 66 salting lorries at eight depots ready to distribute their loads on about a third of the county’s main roads.

Cllr Nick Chard (Con), KCC cabinet member for highways, said: "We have learned lessons from last year and we will have an improved service, I am confident of that."

He added that there would be greater co-operation with local district and borough councils to ensure pavements were properly cleared. The failure to salt many pavements prompted complaints last year.

"We will have a lot closer relationship with districts and will ensure that pavements are treated much more quickly."

For the first time, KCC is also trialling a scheme where a selected number of parishes will control which areas are locally salted.

KCC will deliver a one tonne bag of mixed sand and salt and the parishes will take charge of its distribution.

Primarily, this will be for pavements.

The authority has also secured the services of 180 farmers on standby, equipped with snow ploughs to clear rural roads where more than 50mm of snow is on the ground .