Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey are ready for winter

Winter maintenance and area gritting maps

The ‘Highlands are Ready for Winter” was the message given at the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee today (3 December) with staff, vehicles and a plentiful supply of salt in place to treat roads and footpaths over the winter months.

The Highland Council has increased its winter maintenance budget to £5.6 million this year and has introducing an improved service with 45,500 tonnes of salt in storage in readiness for winter.

The average annual usage of salt for Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey has increased over recent winters and is now around 6,000 tonnes. There are 134 grit/salt bins generally placed at locations with steep gradients throughout the area.

Leader of the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area committee, Councillor Liz MacDonald said: “The Highland Council is Ready for Winter and along with our Trunk Road agency partners we will do all the best that we can to keep people on the roads.

“We all have a duty, however, to take responsibility for our own personal safety. Drivers need to be aware that Highland has the longest road network of any Council within Scotland and that it is simply not possible to treat every road at the same time. We should all be prepared before driving in winter weather and drive according to conditions.”

Councillor MacDonald added: “The council supports the Scottish Government’s Ready for Winter campaign which we promote through our website and social media. People can stay informed on school closures, weather and any transport problems by visiting our website at: http://www.highland.gov.uk

This year’s national Ready For Winter campaign focuses on being prepared in the community, at home, on the move and in the workplace and gives lots of helpful tips on how to be better prepared.

Maps showing all the gritting priority routes for the area are available on the Council’s website at http://www.highland.gov.uk/gritting.htm.