Pictured: Councillor Paul Garner, Depute Leader checks in on winter preperations
With winter now in full swing, Falkirk Council's roads team is working hard to keep the 613 miles of roads safe and accessible through its winter maintenance programme.
This programme ensures essential routes remain passable for vehicles and pedestrians, helping maintain safety, connectivity, and the flow of goods and services across local communities.
Preparing for winter weather
With falling temperatures increasing the likelihood of icy or snowy conditions, the Council takes steps to:
- prevent snow and ice from endangering safe passage on roads and footways
- maintain traffic flow to and from communities
- mitigate the potential impact of winter weather on the local economy
The roads team concentrate on treating the routes most heavily used (priority 1) that make up around 201 miles of road or 32% of the overall network length.
Resources for residents
Between mid-October and mid-April, the Council typically receives a high volume of queries from residents about gritting services. To address these concerns proactively, the Council has developed several resources:
- an interactive grit map which shows where and when roads have been gritted and the locations of grit bins across the area
- a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which answers the most commonly asked questions about winter services, including gritting priorities and procedures
- a winter service policy is now available online outlining the framework for winter road maintenance.
Councillor Paul Garner, Depute Leader said: "We know how important it is to keep our roads and footways safe and accessible during the winter months. By making key information available online 24/7, we aim to provide residents with reassurance and clarity about our winter maintenance programme.
“This ensures everyone can understand the Council’s approach and feel confident in the steps we are taking to safeguard our communities.
“We hope that the various information available online gives residents peace of mind when bad weather hits, ensuring they can access the latest information and updates on winter maintenance efforts quickly and easily on their phone, tablet or computer.
“I would also like to thank our roads and gritting team for the work they carry out during challenging conditions to keep our roads passable and safe. Their commitment to ensure that essential routes are treated promptly make a real difference for residents, businesses, and emergency services alike during the harsh winter months.”