Councillors are being asked to approve the trial of a small specialised gritter, which will be used on the city’s footpaths and pedestrian areas this winter.
The proposal is just one of several recommendations to be considered by members of Sheffield City Council’s Environmental Services and Regulation Committee when they meet on Friday, 12 September.
Some of the other recommendations that councillors are being asked to consider, include:
• A revision of the priority one gritting routes so key bus routes are included alongside the main arterial roads that link Sheffield with other major cities and motorways
• A revised criteria for grit bin locations and placements across the city and a review of all 2,200 grit bins currently on the highway network using the updated criteria
• An upgrade of all weather forecasting stations in the city to provide more accurate and detailed forecasts.
The council has one of the largest percentage precautionary gritting networks as well as more grit bins than any other local authority in the country and each year, an annual winter maintenance review is carried out.
But following the extreme and prolonged weather event in January, and an increase in questions and queries from residents during this time, a more detailed and comprehensive review took place in May.
That review took on board the comments and feedback from the public and helped to form the recommendations now being put before the committee.
I’m sure everyone remembers that very prolonged cold snap we had at the start of the year where we were in the grips of freezing temperatures, snow and ice.
On the back of what was a one in 10-year significant weather event, and the contact made by residents across the city, it was right that officers carried out a more detailed review of the winter maintenance programme.
These recommendations, which are being put before the committee, are designed to address public concerns as well as making sure the council is as well-placed as possible to ensure the smooth running of the city’s road networks during any weather event.
Councillor Joe Otten, chair of Sheffield City Council’s Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee
* The Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee meeting will take place at 10am on Friday, 12 September and the agenda and report can found at Committee details - Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee | Sheffield City Council
The meeting can be viewed at https://sheffield.public-i.tv/core/portal/home