Grit crisis: Notts supply 'will run out on Sunday'

NOTTS could run out of grit by Sunday and is in a 'desperate' situation - due to low national reserves.

Notts County Council only received a 60 tonne delivery today and officers do not know when they will next receive more salt.

Previously, A and B roads have been gritted as well as bus routes.

But rationing means A and B roads will be gritted over the weekend, but bus routes which do not run down those roads will not be salted.

Salt stocks are now controlled by the national salt cell, a Government advisory body, and the areas worst hit by the weather will be prioritised.

Notts County Council has received 800 tonnes of a salt and sand mix which will be put into grit bins, used on footways and for other hotspots at the request of emergency services. But it cannot be sprayed by gritters and will be spread by hand and not used on major roads.

More than 40 snow ploughs are on stand-by.

Coun Richard Jackson, cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "Earlier this week we had secured a delivery of an extra 5,000 tonnes of salt for Notts's roads.

"Since then, the coordination of salt deliveries has been centralised by the government, effectively taking control of salt deliveries out of our hands.

"We are lobbying regionally and nationally to try and get more salt for Notts. We will continue to push for a salt delivery during the weekend."

"But, unfortunately, the salt situation is now desperate in Notts and without further deliveries, we will run out by Sunday."

The council has contacted the national salt cell and is awaiting a response.

A spokesman for NCT said: "We have still got some bus routes on diversions, but we will continue running as much of a normal service as we can.

"If the roads become impassable then either we will cut them short or divert them."

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