SHROPSHIRE Council’s highways teams still have supplies of salt despite the national shortage, Whitchurch residents have been assured.
The council’s gritters are ensuring the county’s A and B roads and other high risk routes are gritted.
Although the council kept large salt stockpiles in preparation for the winter (15,000 tonnes was acquired during summer 2009), a national salt shortage is meaning salt replenishment is being delayed.
On Monday, the council had 2,400 tonnes of salt remaining, which dependent on weather was enough to continue to grit all of Shropshire’s A and B roads and agreed priority routes for around six days.
The council is also contacting other suppliers including in Europe to acquire more salt.
Central Government is now controlling salt supplies via its Salt Cell operation.
It is now advising on national priorities for salt deliveries to help ensure stocks of salt are prioritised.
The council is replenishing the 800 grit bins across the county and people are encouraged to make use of these bins and salt piles to keep their local roads open.