Highland Council

Winter Road maintenance

Are our Priorities right?


      Clear Pavements entirely - e.g. to allow to and from bus stops;

      At least clear bus stops;

      Encourage people to clear pavements (dispel urban myths);

      Re-consider routes on hills (currently Priority 4),

Communication

      Better use of local radio (MFR);

      Major on websites;

      Gap between emergency (Life and limb) and routine calls;

      Focus on better telephone service;

      If relying on web disenfranchise people;

      Be prepared to respond on a 24 hour basis;

      Concentrate on local media outlets - P&J, Courier with regular press  updates.

Community

      Young people should help clear snow (pavements etc);

      Sweep your own pavement, shopkeepers too;

      Grit bins - on hills

      Businesses should not rip-off people for bags of salt and sand;

      Some Councils sell salt etc at cost plus a nominal fee prices;

      Community Councils could help identify vulnerable people; suggest
      locations for grit bins; help circulate advise and info;
organise clearances  using grit.

Community/General

      Smarter use of contractors;

      Could there be more discretion for gritter drivers to use their discretion?

      Standing arrangements with farmers (ref Aberdeen-shire)

Gritting - Current Priorities

Local Roads

Highland has the longest road network of any Council within Scotland and as such it is simply not possible to treat every road at the same time. We have therefore established a priority system which targets roads based on their local importance.

      Priority 1 - is given to identified main routes and these will be covered from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday - Saturday. On Sundays and Public Holidays the
      cover is from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

      Priority 2 - is given to other strategic routes, including bus routes* and the  cover is 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Saturday.

      Priority 3 - applies to urban streets and school bus routes* and the cover is between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday - Saturday.

      Priority 4 - applies all other routes as resources allow. Difficult and steep routes being treated before the rest.

*On bus routes, gritting will not necessarily be completed before buses start their journey.

Footways

Like roads, footways have been prioritised and will be covered Monday to Saturday between 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. On Sundays and Public Holidays, the cover will be between 7 a.m. and noon.

      Priority One: Main urban shopping centres;

      Priority Two: main urban footways serving schools, hospitals and minor shopping areas;

      Priority Three: Other footways as resources permit.