Snow clearance and road gritting
Snow clearance involves implementing extensive emergency plans and includes the mobilisation of resources all aimed at clearing roads affected in the shortest time possible. Our aim is to clear all priority roads and locations of snow, as soon as conditions permit, and clearance work will continue as necessary.
In certain extreme conditions it may be necessary to spread a mixture of salt and grit to achieve traction, particularly in the case of compacted snow.
Snow clearance and gritting priorities
- Priority One Locations are entrances to buildings with high footfall and where the most vulnerable users are likely to walk e.g. hospitals, schools, libraries, transport stations, police stations and sheltered accommodation
- Priority One Roads cover the main roads which have the highest number of bus routes / stops, shopping parades, emergency access and the highest footfall
- Priority Two Roads are roads with a steep gradient which are inclined to suffer from ground frost
All other road and locations would only be considered when conditions dictate and when all other priorities had been fully and adequately treated and resources become available.
Snow clearance and gritting maps
When to grit?
The Council are recipients of a specialised winter weather forecasting service provided by the Met Office. The forecast, received on a daily basis, gives predictions of the possibility of freezing road temperatures, snow etc, and the time those conditions may occur.
For more information visit www.metoffice.com
In addition, throughout the winter season, an inspector is employed to check the accuracy of the forecast by measuring road surface temperatures. This enables decisions to be made if, or when gritting is necessary. Wherever possible, gritting and salting takes place outside of peak traffic times and before freezing conditions occur.
Grit bins
There are currently grit bins throughout Hackney in areas not normally subject to mechanical treatment, at hilly, exposed locations and potentially dangerous road junctions. They are normally placed on site in winter and removed after the winter. They are restocked with salt when needed.
Requests for the provision of a grit bin are assessed and judged against a criteria. They are only provided if full justification can be shown. Please contact info@hackney.gov.uk to make your request.
Can a grit bin be removed?
Often grit bins become the focus of vandalism or the meeting place for youths. If this becomes an unbearable nuisance, a request for the bin to be removed can be made. The agreement of other residents in the area would be needed before the facility is withdrawn. Please contact info@hackney.gov.uk to make your request.
Are pedestrians routes gritted?
In very severe weather conditions, especially when snow or ice may remain for some days, consideration is given, in priority order, to the treatment of pedestrian routes - footways and pavements in the following order:
- town centre streets/main pedestrian routes
- shopping frontages
- busy pedestrian routes
- hospitals and doctors surgery frontages/routes
- school frontages/routes
- community centre frontages/routes
- steep sections of footway/footpaths
- predominately elderly residents areas
- other residential areas
- industrial estates
Page updated: 7 Feb 2012
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