Council assure public over salt supplies as wintry conditions return

The Highland Council has reassured the public that it has sufficient salt supplies to cope with a return of wintry conditions over the next week.

Repeated treatments are required by the Council’s gritting fleet as the Highlands experience a mixture of rain, sleet and snow, with ice forming and melting again on a regular basis in freezing conditions.

Neil Gillies, Director of Transport Environmental and Community Services, said: “By careful management of our salt stock the Council has sufficient salt to deal with these conditions and deliveries are continuing to arrive.  2,000 Tonnes were delivered on Tuesday to Inverness, increasing total stocks to 13,000 Tonnes and a 1,000 Tonne shipload is due in Wick on Saturday.  A further 800 Tonnes are due in Kyle of Lochalsh on Monday with another 800 Tonnes to Lochinver later in the week.”

He added: “The rapidly changing road conditions mean that drivers must remain alert to the possibility of ice forming at any time.  With rain turning to snow, or skies clearing allowing wet roads to freeze, roads which have been treated can rapidly become treacherous again and motorists are encouraged to adjust their speed appropriately for the prevailing conditions.”