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'OPERATION SNOWFLAKE' MEANS THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS READY FOR THE DROP IN TEMPERATURES |
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Written by coder
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Thursday, 09 November 2006 |
West Sussex County Council is ready for the winter after staging an exercise called 'Operation Snowflake' at its three main highways depots.
Gritters, snow ploughs and other equipment were tested, drivers were briefed on their gritting routes, and stocks of the crushed rock salt that is spread on the road in freezing temperatures were assessed.
The exercise was held at the county's depots at Broadbridge Heath, near Horsham, Clapham, near Worthing, and Drayton on the outskirts of Chichester.
The County Council has 33 gritters, one for each of the main routes that are included in the winter maintenance plans.
Thanks to support from the farming community, the highways depots can utilise 22 snow ploughs in the event of heavy snow.
County Councillor Andrew Barrett-Miles, Policy Adviser to Lieutenant Colonel Tex Pemberton, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, was briefed on 'Operation Snowflake' when he visited the Clapham depot.
Mr Barrett-Miles said: "It was a very useful exercise, and I will be able to tell Tex that I am satisfied that we are as well prepared for the Winter months as we possibly can be."
Last year, the County Council set-up a new weather station at Fernhurst to improve the advance warning system of a drop in temperatures. There is also a station at Adversane near Horsham.
The Council also uses information from three Highways Agency trunk road weather stations – the A27 at Temple Barn, and on the A23 at both Pease Pottage and Pyecombe.
The County Council currently salts approximately 42 per-cent of the road network in West Sussex compared to a national average of 38 per cent.
The winter plan covers all A or principal roads as well as many B roads.
The gritters also cover other roads of local importance such as access roads to hospitals, most schools and colleges, industrial estates, rail and bus stations, ambulance and fire stations.
'Operation Snowflake' in West Sussex this year was the first to be carried out with new highways network service provider May Gurney.
Glen Mace, General Manager, May Gurney Highway Services, said: "May Gurney is delighted to be working as the new highways network service provider on 'Operation Snowflake'. We will ensure the standard of the highways network across West Sussex to keep the county moving."
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 03 June 2007 )
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