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| UK weather: salt and grit stocks high, say councils | UK weather: salt and grit stocks high, say councils |
| (8 days later) | |
| Councils in England and Wales have said they have enough grit and salt to deal with any cold snap, in an attempt to reassure motorists and pedestrians there will not be a repeat of last winter's shortages. | Councils in England and Wales have said they have enough grit and salt to deal with any cold snap, in an attempt to reassure motorists and pedestrians there will not be a repeat of last winter's shortages. |
| A Local Government Association's survey found there about 1.3m tonnes of salt in council depots, enough to fill more than 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This is about twice as much as was used during last winter. | A Local Government Association's survey found there about 1.3m tonnes of salt in council depots, enough to fill more than 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This is about twice as much as was used during last winter. |
| The LGA said: "Councils have invested in new fleets of GPS-tracked gritting trucks, mini-gritters and specialist vehicles for narrow and hilly streets. | The LGA said: "Councils have invested in new fleets of GPS-tracked gritting trucks, mini-gritters and specialist vehicles for narrow and hilly streets. |
| "Thousands of grit bins have been placed in estates and side streets, residents have been given their own bags of salt along with salt spreaders in some neighbourhoods, and arrangements have been made with parish councils, farmers and community groups to grit hard-to-reach areas." | "Thousands of grit bins have been placed in estates and side streets, residents have been given their own bags of salt along with salt spreaders in some neighbourhoods, and arrangements have been made with parish councils, farmers and community groups to grit hard-to-reach areas." |
| Councils were criticised last winter for not having enough grit and salt to deal with exceptionally poor weather. | Councils were criticised last winter for not having enough grit and salt to deal with exceptionally poor weather. |
| "Council websites will be updated with the latest information on weather, gritting routes, school closures and bin collections, special 'gritter Twitter' feeds and Facebook pages have been set up, and leaflets have been sent out advising residents on winter services, how to drive safely in snow and dispelling the health and safety myths about clearing pavements," he said. | "Council websites will be updated with the latest information on weather, gritting routes, school closures and bin collections, special 'gritter Twitter' feeds and Facebook pages have been set up, and leaflets have been sent out advising residents on winter services, how to drive safely in snow and dispelling the health and safety myths about clearing pavements," he said. |
| The assurances came as weather forecasters said the UK's first cold snap of winter appeared to be coming to an end. Victoria Kettley, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "We can't rule out more wintry showers – these may fall as snow very locally on high ground like the North York Moors, but will generally be sleet, rain or hail. | The assurances came as weather forecasters said the UK's first cold snap of winter appeared to be coming to an end. Victoria Kettley, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "We can't rule out more wintry showers – these may fall as snow very locally on high ground like the North York Moors, but will generally be sleet, rain or hail. |
| "Temperatures will be between about 7C and 10C, and in central Scotland overnight tonight won't get above 4C or 5C. | "Temperatures will be between about 7C and 10C, and in central Scotland overnight tonight won't get above 4C or 5C. |
| "This afternoon rain will push into north-west Scotland, and the rest of UK will be dry and cold, with sunny spells. It will be cold across north-west Scotland and rain pushing in afternoon." | "This afternoon rain will push into north-west Scotland, and the rest of UK will be dry and cold, with sunny spells. It will be cold across north-west Scotland and rain pushing in afternoon." |
| Milder air and rain overnight will cover much of the UK on Sunday, said Kettley. The south-east will start fine and breezy, but cloud will cover most of the country, with the heaviest and most persistent rain in Scotland. | Milder air and rain overnight will cover much of the UK on Sunday, said Kettley. The south-east will start fine and breezy, but cloud will cover most of the country, with the heaviest and most persistent rain in Scotland. |
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