Keeping You Moving Night And Day and don’t forget we putting up Council Tax next year
Winter is now well and truly upon us, and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is doing all it can to keep the main roads open and residents moving through the day and night.
Our Highways team are on hand 24-hours-a-day, 365 days of the year – even at “Gritmas” time, treating the network, whatever the weather.
While most people are fast asleep in their beds at night, with fewer vehicles on the road, the Council’s fleet Salt Vehicles can be found making their way around the County Borough’s 125km of roads.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Out Of Hours 24/7, 365 Response Team travel the entire County Borough whenever inclement weather is forecast.
The dedicated team will once again be out and about over the festive period, even on Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – to help make sure, where possible, that motorists have a “Merry Gritmas.”
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, with responsibility for Highways and Streetcare, said: “It’s thanks to the dedicated work of our staff that residents and motorists are able to safely travel around the County Borough during the winter months.
“They are working at any time, even at Christmas, during the day and night, often whilst the rest of us are asleep in bed. It’s important that we support the work they do and be thankful that our staff are out there doing their very best to keep our roads as safe as possible in often treacherous conditions.
“But despite our highways being treated, it’s important that motorists realise that the salt is not magic and they still need to take their time and drive safely, according to the conditions.
“Just because the road is treated, it doesn’t mean its skid-proof and one of the biggest issues our teams face is vehicles overtaking our gritting lorries as they treat the roads.
“We therefore urge all motorists to slow down and bear with us whilst we treat the network.”
The unit fleet includes 10 frontline salt vehicles, 10 second-line vehicles with ploughs available, two loading shovels, 13 general-purpose vehicles and eight 4×4 vehicles, as well as around 40 tippers also available to assist during emergencies.
The Team take to the roads day and night and do their very best to keep us moving, often working in extremely hazardous conditions.
All main salt vehicles are fitted with the latest technology in salt distribution, including trackers and salt monitoring systems, which allow the Council to programme the vehicles accurately, depending on the route and weather conditions. This results in a more effective and efficient use of the salt supplies, reducing costs and the environmental impact that the salt has on our County Borough.
The Council undertakes its annual Winter Service between the core period of October 1 to and April 30. In a single run of the Precautionary Salting Network (priority routes), staff cover a length of 267 miles – that’s the equivalent of travelling from Pontypridd to Birmingham……and back!
During each run, anything between 50 and 70 tonnes of salt is spread, depending on the severity of the weather conditions.
Throughout last year’s winter period, which was mainly cold and wet, with no significant snowfall, the Council carried out 63 winter weather actions, restocked 1,200 self-help salt bins located across the County Borough and used 4,650 tonnes of salt.
To become effective, salt needs to be laid on the highway by our vehicles and then crushed by other vehicles in order to dissolve. Salt becomes less effective when temperatures drop below -5C.
Residents are reminded that during periods of inclement weather, it is important that vehicles are parked safely in order for our vehicles to get through to treat the roads. Please avoid double-parking and parking close to junctions if at all possible.
Self-help salt bins are also provided to allow the public to treat highways and footpaths, not personal driveways. It is also a time to call on elderly and vulnerable and family, friends and neighbours to ensure their safety and well-being.
The Council’s Your Neighbours Need You campaign encourages residents to help each other, and in particular elderly and vulnerable people, during periods of heavy snowfall.
It promotes a number of small actions that ‘good neighbours’ can undertake during severe winter weather.
Motorists are advised to follow television and radio weather forecasts, and the Council’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as allowing extra time for journeys.
Residents are also advised to follow the Council’s social media accounts for regular schools and local services updates.
View the Council’s Winter Service Operational Plan
To report any issues after 5pm or at weekends, call the Council’s Out Of Hours service on 01443 425001.
