Renfrewshire’s gritting teams plough ahead in freezing conditions

Renfrewshire’s gritting teams have been praised for their round-the-clock efforts as freezing conditions hit the area.

With temperatures reaching as low as minus 10 degrees, gritting teams have face challenging conditions as they aim to keep priority routes free of snow and ice.

Nine gritting vehicles have been out covering more than 850km of roads across Renfrewshire on a priority basis throughout the winter period, with more than 864 tonnes of grit used across the last two weeks.

Local favourites including Ploughlo Grittini, Tony Gritzpatrick and Thawin’ Batty have been pre-treating and gritting priority routes day and night to keep the roads network moving, while grit bins have been refilled as often as possible to support

Gwyneth Heaney is part of the team leading the gritting response and has praised the response of her team during the freezing weather.

Gwyneth said: “Having had a relatively warm November, we knew not to take that for granted as the cold weather can hit at any time and that’s proven the case with some of the coldest temperatures we’ve seen in some time.

“Our team have responded fantastically though, working in difficult conditions on a 24/7 basis to keep our main roads, including school and emergency routes, clear and available for local people.

“Freezing temperatures are challenging as they can often be too cold for the grit to take effect, but teams have been ploughing roads and re-gritting to ensure they remain open – often once a route is complete it needs restarted as snow has fallen or the temperature has dropped again.

“Unfortunately, we hope you can appreciate we can’t reach everywhere in Renfrewshire, but please be assured we are doing the best we can to ensure people in our communities can use the roads safely throughout the winter period.

“Our gritting teams can sometimes go unheralded as they’re often working overnight so, please thank the teams if you see them out and about for their work – I know I’m extremely grateful for what they do.

“If you are able to use our grit bins to clear paths within your street, while we tackle the main routes, that will make a big difference to your neighbours and show the community spirit we know is present across Renfrewshire.”

Gritting forms one part of the area’s Ready for Winter campaign which aims to prepare residents and businesses in Renfrewshire for winter weather conditions, while also highlighting the work of frontline council staff who keep services operating whatever the weather.

Ready for Winter also aims to provide residents, businesses and staff with the support they need over the winter period, including information on how to access flu and Covid booster vaccinations; how to prepare your home, your family, or your business for adverse weather; and how to receive support with the cost of living.

Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “I want to thank every one of our staff who keep our services running throughout the winter period.

“The recent freezing temperatures have made everyone want to stay indoors, but our teams are out in difficult conditions 24/7 to ensure local people can use our roads and access the services they need.

“Our gritting teams have been fantastic recently at keeping the area moving and I’m so appreciative of the work they’ve been doing and will continue to do throughout the winter.”

For more information on the council’s preparations for winter and the support available over the winter period, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/RenReady.