A proposed new approach to the way that the Council keeps Calderdale moving during snowy and icy weather will be discussed this week.
Calderdale Council’s Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel is meeting at Halifax Town Hall this Thursday (3 November) at 6pm to hear about plans to update the winter service for roads across the borough.
From gritting roads and clearing snow, to restocking salt bins, the Council’s highways winter service is ready to work 24/7 from 1 October to 30 April every year to help keep drivers and pedestrians safe when Calderdale is hit by snow or ice.
To ensure that this is done as effectively as possible with limited budgets, a review is underway to assess the needs across the borough.
The plan is to move to a risk-based approach. Every road in Calderdale will be assessed and given a risk rating, which will determine whether, how and when it is gritted / treated.
The major A, B and C roads will still be treated as normal, but the new approach will bring consistency to the level of service received for other roads across Calderdale.
Cllr James Baker, Chair of the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel, said:
“Keeping people safe when the weather is bad is the main aim of the Council’s winter service. Currently there’s a inconsistent approach to the way that some roads are dealt with, so it’s important that we look into a new approach to ensure that limited funding is targeted where it’s needed most, and that people know what level of service to expect.”
The proposed risk-based approach is backed up by a new national code of practice by the UK Roads Liaison Group, which gives guidance on winter services for all councils across the country.
Calderdale Council’s winter service review also brings opportunities to benefit from the latest innovations on the market.
Once the review is complete, new gritting routes and service levels are expected to be in place by October 2017.