Highways Winter Service in the Vale of Glamorgan
From October to April the Council provides a dedicated Highways
Winter Service operating out of the Alps complex, Wenvoe
- A fleet of 9 purpose made gritters is available 24 hours a
day
- A stock of 2,500 tonnes of salt is kept in a covered
facility
- 6 weather stations across the Vale linked to a weather service
provider, provide the most up-to-date weather conditions
- Continual monitoring and assessment is maintained during this
period using portable laptop computers and the latest software
- A team of experienced highway engineers provide round the clock
24 hour cover to evaluate the weather information and judge the
need for salting
- Within 3 hours of mobilising, all routes are salted
Vale of Glamorgan has over
1,018km of adopted highways and over 42% are pre-treated (salted)
when there is a forecast of ice or snow.
The Highway Maintenance Division is
responsible for all of the adopted roads within the Vale, with the
exception of the M4.
The Vale of Glamorgan’s policy on Highways
Winter Service is to ensure that all roads that are subject to
pre-salting are salted before the onset of ice. In addition, during
severe weather (abnormal, icy/snow conditions) a reactive salt
spreading/snow clearance service will be undertaken as far as
reasonably practical.
Nine gritters and operators on call 24 hours a day from October
to April. The Council has a contract with a weather forecasting
service and each day around lunchtime the latest information is
analysed and the pre-salting proposals for that day planned.
How is the decision to salt made?
The decision to salt is based on the road
temperature and not air temperature. Frost on
car windscreens and grass or even external
temperature monitors on cars are not true
indicators. Salting is carried out when road
temperatures are forecast to fall below zero and damp conditions
are expected. Salting is usually planned to take place outside the
peak traffic periods.
The Winter Maintenance Service is provided to
make your journeys as safe as possible for the conditions and to
minimise any delays.
How are the salting routes determined?
The Council has prioritised the highway
network and determined the pre-salting routes. These routes have
been determined as:
- Strategic routes
- Major roads
- Important industrial commercial routes
- Proving an access in and out of villages and towns
- Safety considerations i.e. roads at risk
In the event of severe snow, the Council, as
part of its emergency procedures, has a pre-determined snow plan.
During such conditions all normal highway maintenance activities
will cease and the priority given to keeping the roads clear and
mobilising all available resources. An emergency room is
established and liaison with all emergency services, the media and
service providers takes place. The priority for snow clearance is
as follows:
How are 'strategic routes'
classified?
- Major roads
- Important industrial commercial routes
- Providing an access in and out of villages and towns
- Routes serving hospitals, fire services, ambulance station and
schools
- Bus routes and milk collection points
- Footways in shopping areas
- Other roads giving access to other built-up areas
- Roads serving isolated farms and houses
- Salt bins are strategically provided across the Vale.
- They are available for immediate use by road users when
required. If you observe that any such bins have been damaged or
need re-filling, please contact us.
The Vale of Glamorgan provides a Winter
Maintenance Service to keep you safe, but
please ensure that you always drive with
caution. In snow conditions be prepared for
delays. Take extra care and ensure that you
have warm clothes in the event of an
emergency.
VISIBLE SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
THE ALPS, WENVOE, CARDIFF CF5 6AA
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Day tel: 029 2067 3200,
FAX: 029 2067 3019
Emergency out of hours tel:
01446 747874
E-Mail: visible@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Website: www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/highways
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
DIVISION
Download this information in leaflet form
Guide to winter
Maintenance (PDF)