Nairn winter maintenance plan approved
Gritting priorities for Highland Council roads and footpaths in the Nairn area this winter 2018/19 have been approved by Councillors today (Wednesday 12 September 2018).
Nairn Committee members have given the green light for a plan which includes road lists and maps prioritising gritting routes. It explains that primary routes are treated first, followed by secondary routes and then all ‘other’ routes as resources permit.
The plan includes an alteration to weekend services as set within the Council’s current Winter Maintenance Policy which was recently approved at the 16 August, Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with a small number of ‘difficult other’ routes to be agreed at Ward level.
The Council’s policy is in place to ensure a consistent level of service is applied across all areas of the Highlands. Each year local areas put in place their Winter Maintenance Plan to cover the operational details in order to deliver a service locally within existing budget and resources.
Members have agreed that a standard weekend service will be introduced to with the same service level being provided on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Councillors discussed the priorities of gritting the Nairn area network of 66km (20%) primary routes, 98km (29%) secondary routes and 169m (51%) other routes across all the area’s Wards.
Across the Nairn area there are 3 gritters available and 1 footpath tractor and a team of 9 staff are involved in delivering winter maintenance supported by Amenity, Streets and Waste Staff.
The average annual usage of salt is approximately 2,500 tonnes and there is sufficient salt in stock or on order spread across depots to meet this requirement.
Cllr Tom Heggie, Chair of the Nairnshire Committee said:
“We have agreed the Maintenance Plan for Nairn Area for this winter 2018/19 with the equalisation of weekend gritting services on Saturdays and Sundays. We welcome the assurance given by the Director of Community Services that a formal escalation procedure will be adopted when severe conditions are forecast or experienced for the immediate mobilisation of all available manual staff across Community Services to assist.
“Members of the public are reminded that they can apply for self-help assistance through community councils for salt/grit bins, scrapers and reflective waistcoats where they feel this is most needed in their communities.”
Details of the Nairn Area priority routes and winter services information will be published on the council’s website at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/gritting.