Ice warning as cold weather bites
GRITTERS were out in force across the Westcountry last night as temperatures plummeted.
Motorists were warned to expect icy roads overnight with thermometers forecast to drop to as low as –6C in some areas of Devon and Cornwall.
Devon County Council was salting its entire network for the first time since last winter. Its gritters were out from 6pm yesterday, treating around 1,650 miles on all of the county's 48 salting routes. Further inspections will be carried out early this morning.
Coun Stuart Hughes, Cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "After the torrential rain we've just had, ice could be a problem in some areas. This is the first real cold snap we've had so it's worth remembering that even on roads that have been salted, ice can still form."
The weekend deluge continued to take its toll yesterday. The driver of this car, pictured, escaped unhurt when it careered off a road into a swollen drainage causeway near Burnham-on-Sea, North Somerset.
Similar action was last night being taken by Cornwall Council, which is responsible for more than 4,530 miles of road from major routes to narrow country lanes.
Graeme Hicks, Cabinet member for highways, said: "Public safety is always of paramount concern and we do everything we can to provide as safe a passage as possible for users of the highway.
"This is an extremely important part of the council's highways service and about £1 million a year is spent on keeping roads open and safe during the winter."
As the region braced itself for the cold snap, it emerged that some areas of storm-hit Britain suffered one of the wettest-ever Novembers.
The month has already had the fifth highest amount of rainfall on record – and is set to climb further.
Flood-ravaged Cumbria's 58-year November record of 10.5 inches (267mm) was smashed in 24 hours earlier in the month, with the latest total now more than 12.4 inches (316.7mm).
Up until November 24, Cornwall endured 6.6 inches (167.8mm) of rain, 20 per cent above average, and Devon 7.5 inches (189.9mm), up 46 per cent.
4 Comments
by Steve, Canada
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 10:29PM
“Use grit, not salt”
by TimV, Pz
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 7:27PM
“Has anyone stopped to think (on ice even!) what happens to the thousands of tons of salt spread on the roads during icy conditions? If not we should. A road network now covers the earth and every year millions of tons of salt (NaCl) and other pollutants enter streams and aquifers from them, affecting their sensitive eco-systems. Highway authorities and drivers need to become far more aware of the wider damage they are doing to our world.”
by Taurus, Redruth, Cornwall
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 1:06PM
“I forgot to add, it's a great pity forward thinking doesn't come to the fore regarding road maintenence, because most roads are in a PITiful state. I'm sure these roads most certainly accelerate the depreciation of our vehicles.”
by Taurus, Redruth, Cornwall
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 1:02PM
“As a former county councillor, back years ago, may I congratulate the highways division for their forward thinking in this instance. Better safe than sorry - as my Granny used to say.”