From: "John Reynolds" To: "Bar Hill Parish Council" ; "Bar Hill News" ; "Bar Hill website" ; "Binnie Harvey-Boxworth" ; "Dry Drayton News" ; "Dry Drayton Website" ; "Girton Parish Council" ; "Girton Parish News" ; "Girton Website" ; "Irish Nick-Dry Drayton" ; "Lolworth Parish Council" Subject: GRITTING TEAMS WARN DRIVERS ICY WEATHER LIKELY TO CONTINUE Date: 16 December 2007 18:55 Cambridgeshire's fleet of 36 gritters will be out tonight for the sixth time in the past two week and safety experts are warning drivers the icy conditions could continue for several days. Weather forecasts suggest temperatures could drop to near or below freezing over the next five days and motorists are warned to take extra care even if they think a road has been gritted. Cambridgeshire County Council's fleet of environmentally friendly gritters will be carrying out a full run tonight from around 7pm and are likely to be out again over the next few days. Motorists are being reminded to make sure their vehicles are ready for icy conditions, such as clearing windscreens, and to drive to the conditions. A full gritting run, such as tonight's, will see around 1,100 miles treated which equates to 250 tonnes of rocksalt. That means more than 40 per cent of the road network is treated - much higher than most Councils and means most people live on or near a gritted route. The gritters have been out eight times this winter - which is above last year but still below the usual number of runs expected by this time. Although Cambridgeshire treats more of its road network than most councils, including those in East Anglia, drivers must not assume a road has been gritted. Ice can still form on treated roads, especially where temperatures drop well below minus 5 centigrade. Cambridgeshire pioneered the use of environmentally friendly pre-wet gritting in East Anglia - a method that is already used in Scandinavia and Continental Europe. The pre-wet method means brine is mixed with the salt before it is spread on the road. This procedure means less salt is used. The salt is more likely to stay on the road during windy conditions and is effective on dry roads when ice is expected. The gritting team receive up to the minute weather information and forecasts. Cambridgeshire County Council keeps motorists up to date using their web site www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk People can log onto the Council's Internet site to find out the latest information about the roads and where gritting has taken place. David Groom, Area Manager (Maintenance) for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Gritting Cambridgeshire's roads is part of the Council's commitment to improving road safety. The vehicles are some of the best in the country and drivers are on call 24 hours a day to go at a moment's notice. We will be out tonight and will continue to closely monitor the situation. As we all know weather forecasts can change or be wrong but it is better to be prepared. We ask motorists to play their part too by making sure their vehicles are safe to drive and cleared of ice and snow on lights and windows as well as drive to the conditions. Although we grit many roads, especially those heavily used or travelled along by school buses, they should never assume a road has been treated." John Reynolds -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.5/1191 - Release Date: 20/12/2007 14:14