by Alan Smith

asmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

Bring it on!

Kent County Council’s highways team say they are ready for the worst the winter weather can throw at them this year.

The county has a 60-strong fleet of gritting lorries ready to roll as soon as icy conditions threaten.

It has also stockpiled 20,000 tonnes of salt in six depots across the county for when the mercury plummets.

Cabinet member for highways Bryan Sweetland said: “The crews are now out on dry runs of the salting routes as part of the final preparations, so we’re ready to go when it starts to freeze.

"When the temperature falls, we will frequently put salt down twice overnight – first before the road temperature reaches zero and then again before the morning rush hour.

“If snow hits, we also have a team of more than 150 farmers we have supplied with snowploughs, mobilised to clear agreed rural routes.

“In the town centres, we have teamed up with district councils to make sure key pedestrian areas are cleared and treated.

“In addition, there are more than 2,000 salt bins across the county for locals to treat roads – and pavements – that are not on our salting routes.”

One tonne salt bags have also been distributed to more than 100 parishes across the county.

Details of salting routes can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/winter