Roads in winter

We grit main footpaths in town centres when ice or snow is forecast. This helps keep busy areas safe for pedestrians.

During periods of heavy snow, we also clear and grit footpaths beside main roads. However, we do not grit most residential footpaths, so extra care is needed when walking in these areas.

Where we grit

We focus on footpaths that are used the most, including:

• town centre footpaths
• busy routes beside main roads

Most residential footpaths are not included in our gritting programme.

How long it takes

We aim to:

• grit town centre footpaths within three and a half hours of starting
• clear and grit other main footpaths within two working days

Timescales may vary depending on weather conditions and demand.

What you can do

We ask able-bodied residents to:

• clear snow and ice from the path outside their home
• help neighbours who may need support

Clearing footpaths can help everyone move around safely during winter.

Exceptions

In some cases, we may treat additional footpaths during severe weather. These are set out in our winter service policy.

What you can do next

• take care when walking on untreated footpaths
• clear paths outside your home where possible
• help neighbours who may need assistance