Preparations for winter are well underway with the county council’s fleet of 37 gritters and two quad bikes already on stand-by to keep the county’s roads, paths and cycleways safe for residents in the colder months.

The team’s annual ‘dry runs’, where drivers re-familiarise themselves with the routes, as well as prepare for their role in keeping people in Cambridgeshire moving during the worst of the weather and make sure there are no problems with the fleet, are now complete.

The council’s salt barns are fully stocked with 10,000 tonnes of rock salt ready for the start of the cold season, and grit bins across Cambridgeshire have been refilled.

Crews will be on standby and ready across the council’s four winter service depots at Huntingdon, March, Whittlesford and Witchford, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, between now and April 2025. The council also has two quad bikes that treat over 50km of paths and cycleways in Cambridge City and a dedicated team of around 70 volunteers who go out and salt the pavements.

Getting the county’s roads, cycleways and footpaths ready for winter – including gritting and drain cleaning - is a key element of the council’s preparations for the colder months. Its winter campaign – Be Winter Wise – launched last week, to update residents on activities being undertaken, as well as offering lots of practical advice on how to prepare yourself, your family and your home.

The campaign plays a key role in supporting the council’s vision of a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire.

Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Our gritters provide a crucial service by helping keep Cambridgeshire’s main travel routes safe throughout the winter months, covering nearly half of the county’s highways network.

“Last year our crews went out 57 times, with many of them working throughout the night and early hours of the morning gritting the main roads, paths and cycleways. We also have a fantastic network of volunteers who help keep our paths and pavements safe for those on foot.

“It’s not just about gritting of course. The council maintains over 108,000 drains across the county, and we have been working hard to clear the drains and repair them where necessary before winter sets in.”

Councillor Neil Shailer, vice-chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, added: “There are things that residents can do to get themselves and their families ready to stay safe in the colder, darker and often wetter months, with our Be Winter Wise campaign offering lots of top tips to help.

“Whether you walk, cycle, use public transport or drive, make sure you can be seen and wear some reflective clothing. Always check cycle lights and the brakes on your vehicle.

“You can become a gritter volunteer and help grit paths and driveways in your area, and make sure your vehicle or bike is fully serviced and ready before you set off.

“Even when paths and main roads have been gritted, they might still be icy so always be careful. If the roads are flooded, never drive through standing water.”